The Kids Are Alright

The second movie I watched on Friday was The Kids Are Alright. Now this is a good movie. It has been gathering nominations for some of the early awards, and generating a fair amount of Oscar buzz. Annette Bening and Julianne Moore star in this movie about a complex modern family. I can't tell you how much I love Annette Bening, in all movies and this one is no exception. She is a fantastic actor. She and Julianne are married and raising two kids they each had with a donor. The kids have decided they want to find their biological father and Mark Ruffalo joins the cast in this role. The ensuing story is gritty and real but touching and very human. It was a bit of a surprise to me, all along the way. It's not a predictable movie in any form, its truly a new and fresh look at marriage, raising kids and life in general. I must put a bit of warning that it is well deserving of an R rating, with no lack of very animated intimate scenes. But it is my opinion that sometimes it is appropriate to include subjects in movies which might garner criticism, its more like real life- real life is R rated, lets be honest people. So, being fully in the know about what this movie holds, I would highly encourage renting it. Also, keep it on the radar for some big award nominations in the coming months.

$ $ $ $ $ $

-Emily

Eat Pray Love

I'm just about on Christmas break so I decided to watch three movies yesterday. The first was Eat Pray Love. I admit, I didn't read the book, so I wasn't all that excited about the movie release and sort of purposefully missed it in theaters. I'm sure the book has more story line that the movie did, but just judging the movie, it fell a little flat for me. I loved the scenery though. It made me want to go to Italy and get real fat on pasta. That part was great. It was beautifully shot, and Javier Bardem only made it better. But on the whole, it was just ok for me. I didn't really connect with the main character, at least in the movie, she is just so totally what is wrong with girls today. Insecure and dependent and incapable of making healthy decisions even through the end of the movie a man has to tell her its ok to be in love. I just felt a little annoyed the whole time. Woman up, you know? But not an uninteresting movie and lovely to watch if you're in the mood for a light bit of entertainment.

$ $ $

-Emily

December movie preview

In tune with getting back in the swing of the movie thing, I have decided to do a December movie preview to help you get informed about the onslaught of movies coming out this month.

To begin, The King's Speech had a limited release last week and will hopefully be coming to city near you soon. This movie stars Colin Firth as King George VI who must overcome a speech deficiency to lead England into WWI. An excellent cast and already getting some Oscar buzz. The trailer looks better than it sounds. Promise.

Black Swan has a limited release tomorrow and I am dying to see this one. Staring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis, this movie is about ballerinas. Based on the trailer it looks dark, intense, and risque. The pre-release reviews have been great, and there is a great deal of Oscar buzz surrounding this movie too. I will be reporting as soon as I can get to a city that is showing it...

The Fighter looks to be a great man-friendly film. Starring everybody's favorite Entourage producing Mark Wahlberg. I love him. (Sidenote, I heard Marky Mark the other day on New Kid's on the Block pandora station and it just made me happy inside.That is the BEST pandora station of all time, check it out.) Also stars a wasted away, Christian Bale. This had a lot of anticipation but as it has come nearer to its opening has been receiving mixed reviews. I will still be seeing it, and it will probably be a highly entertaining movie regardless.It opens the 10th.

The new Narnia movie comes out this month. I think this one falls in the category of people who will see a movie regardless of whether someone tells you to or not. I like these movies, although they aren't my favorite in the genre. It's just my opinion, although I'm sure I will see the Voyage of the Dawn Treader at some point. Opens the 10th.

Mostly to be inclusive, the movie Rabbit Hole is getting quite a bit of talk lately. Its an independent film that I don't know a great deal about. Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart star, it opens Dec 17. Seems a bit of a downer but, just keep it on your radar for awards season...

Tron Legacy is opening to a lot of anticipation on the 17th. I have to admit, I have not seen the first one so I don't know anything about it other than Jeff Bridges is awesome all the time sooo.... also the previews look pretty sweet. I'm sure this movie will be entertaining to some degree.

How Do You Know also opens on the 17th staring Nashville native Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd (love him), Owen Wilson (Stuart's celebrity look alike) and the ole rapscallion himself Jack Nicholson. Looks to be a romantic comedy, two guys vie over one girl, etc. If I didn't like everyone in it so much I probably wouldn't see it but, now I probably have to.

I haven't seen one trailer or poster for Gulliver's Travels which surprises me. Its got two premo comedians in it: Jack Black and Jason Segel. It seems like the kind of movie production companies push hard during the holiday "family time" season, I don't know if they aren't because its bad or because it doesn't open until the 22nd? We'll see...

Little Fockers is coming out at the end of the month as well. I suppose a lot of people will see this movie. I can't tell you how much I hate all of these movies. I don't like Ben Stiller or his type of comedy. My opinion is, this movie will suck. Mark down the 22nd as a movie let down, with the exception of.....

True Grit. Coen Brothers. Jeff Bridges. done goodbye awesome. I know what I'm doing on the 22nd...

There will be ample opportunities for movie reviews this month, so check back often! Happy movie going!

-Emily

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I

First of all, I am going to try to get back on the movie blogging biz. The semester is almost over and I have more time now. Hope you will tune in.

As you may know, I am a huge HP fan. HUGE. Therefore, I was over the moon excited to see the newest film. I saw it twice opening week and thought it was a great success. It was more frustrating than the other HP movies because it leaves you hanging as it cuts off right before the seventh book really gets great. I predict the final movie will be outstanding.

As usual there a few things that got changed or left out. Its understandable in a book of that length, but for a fan like myself, it is hard not to notice these changes. It doesn't affect the quality of the movie, but it was something I noticed. 

So, in sum, go see this movie. Especially if you like Harry Potter, although you probably already have

$ $ $ $ $ $ $

-Emily

The Social Network

Ever wonder about the power of an idea?  In the biggest blockbuster of the year to date, Inception asked the question, "Can you deceive someone into believing that an idea is truly their own?"  As a nice counterpoint, The Social Network expertly asks the question, "Can one person really claim ownership of something as fleeting as a simple idea?"  

The Social Network is, of course, the story of Facebook founder and gazillionaire, Mark Zuckerberg.  The movie traces Zuckerberg's roots from a nerdy Harvard undergrad to the heights of his fame and subsequent legal battles.  Zuckerberg is a acid-tongued sophomore at Harvard with a flair for computer wizardry when he meets the Winkelvas brothers.  The "Winkelvi", as Zuckerberg calls them, are everything he wishes he was: tall, attractive, succesful, athletic, capable of getting girls.  They also have an idea.  The brothers have an idea for a social networking site that is exclusive to Harvard students only.  They believe that exclusivity will set them apart from other already existing sites such as myspace and friendster.  The brothers hire Zuckerberg to write code for the site, but soon he's launching his own site, TheFacebook, based on much the same idea.  

Much of the drama in the movie is set in the deposition room as lawyers for several parties question the motives, knowledge and capabilities of each individual involved.  At the base is the question: "Whose idea was this?" 

If only it were that simple.  Social networking was nothing new when facebook was founded, several alternatives were already out there.  Facebook was just the next step in the evolution of networking.  Did the Winkelvas brothers have a claim to the idea that Zuckerberg actually put into operation?  Zuckerberg, in one of the best lines of the film, sneers during his deposition that "If the Winkelvas brothers invented facebook, they would have, well, invented facebook."  

So, perhaps that's it.  In this era of intellectual property where music, movies, money and so much more is passed electronically, maybe the only one with any rights to an idea or thought is the person who acts upon it and makes it his own.  

The acting is all top-notch, especially a turn from Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker, the Napster founder, who manages to dazzle/weasel his way into Zuckerberg's inner circle.  The writing from Aaron Sorkin, of West Wing fame, is taut, as to be expected.  

$ $ $ $ $ $  

-  Stuart

Catfish

Guest Review by Zander, WARNING SPOILER ALERTS!

Alright. I enjoyed the movie.

And let's just get this out of the way: I don’t think it’s “real” and I didn’t enjoy the film so much because of the illusion of “realness”. After I saw the movie, and initially voiced that I did enjoy the movie. I got all the: 'You know that movie’s fake, right? I’m a little surprised you bought into it.'

Ugh, Duh. I wish the filmmakers would give up the whole “This is a true story” thing because it’s totally beside the point. Real or not, it’s a fairly accurate depiction of a modern story.

If you already know the ending, here's a summary of the movie. I'd still say go see it, but perhaps rent it later on. OR if you don't want to read the summary just scroll on down to the bottom and read up a little...

Basically, this dude Nev starts an Internet correspondence with a little girl named Abby who paints. The movie begins with his brother and friend wanting to make a documentary about his odd relationship with this child prodigy.

Abby sends him her paintings and they communicate through email regularly. Nev eventually reaches out to Abby’s family, who welcomes him into their lives. First her mother Angela, then her father and her older sister Megan. They all add each other on Facebook and quickly become “Internet aware” of each other’s doings.

It’s not hard to feel like you know someone on the Internet. I mean, I regularly read several blogs a day from people I've never really met, but I feeeeeel like I know them.

Nev starts to fall for Abby’s beautiful older sister Megan, who sings and lives on a farm not too far from her family in another part of Michigan. She’s pretty dreamy in that “perfectly crafted Facebook page” way. They start flirting over Facebook messages, then it moved to text, then they started calling each other and talking about getting more serious once they met. They’re basically Internet boyfriend/girlfriend.

One night Nev discovers that Megan is posting rare acoustic versions of other singers on her FB wall and pretending it’s her and it clicks that there might be something wrong. By the end of the night, he’s figured out that this family has been lying about so many of the important details of their lives. Nev and his friends can’t find anything on these people that they’ve claimed is true about them.The three of them decide to drive to Michigan to figure out what the hell is real and get an ending for their film. This is where it gets craycray.

Megan’s not real. Her address leads to an empty farmhouse.

The next day the boys showed up to Abby’s house, hoping to meet Abby and find out the truth about Megan. Angela, Abby’s mother, who was supposed to be tall and thin and model-esque, is an obese woman with a braid that rivals Beyonce’s in the “Upgrade U” video. But it’s not like, a fly braid. It’s like a Fundamentalist Latter Day Saint braid. Her husband is a good man who is quite possibly slightly retarded. Her husband has two sons who are severely retarded and physically handicapped. One of them has refused to eat for most of his life and physically harms himself. Eventually they do meet Abby, but she’s an eight year old girl of average intelligence who doesn’t seem to particularly care for art. Her mother Angela, however, is an avid painter.

For those that didn’t figure out what was going to happen within the first half hour of the film like I did, this is everyone begins to realize that Angela is Angela, Abby, Megan, her husband’s online persona, Megan’s male friends, their sisters and their friends. Angela created an entire world so that she, the obese mother of handicapped children who lives in small town Michigan, could have a chance to interact with a handsome young man who appreciated every aspect of her personality that she’d put into each of these characters.

I don’t know if that’s the best summary, but it’s essentially the gist.

And how well do we, as constant users of the Internet, the people that first tried out Facebook, the generation that is living and dating in a world where one in five relationships start online (Thanks, Match.com commercial), know that story? Or that feeling? Or have that on our list of fears?

I know people that’s happened to. Not a person. People! Shades of that movie have happened to all of us, either personally or through acquaintances. And we’ve also all at least heard a story about someone showing up to meet a person they’d been corresponding with only to learn that they’d somehow managed to leave out crucial details about their appearance or situation in life. Catfish isn’t just about these dudes having this done to them, it’s about a woman so mentally ill and beaten down using this amazing gift we’ve been given in a horrific way. And you know it’s because the brutal combination of loneliness and lack of fulfillment morphed into a what I image to be the emotional equivalent of a malignant tumor.

All the critics are saying, “Why wouldn’t he have Googled them earlier?”

Duh. Because he never intended to get emotionally involved with these people. This story would never happen to me because it would just never get that far. I'm not talking to anyone I don't know, and even to them I’m not giving anyone my social security number or my deepest darkests. BUT I can imagine after feeling like you’ve gotten to know someone in an organic way, Googling their name may not occur to you. As far as Nev was concerned, the girl he was involved with was the sister of an eight year old girl that he’d been emailing with for ages. Is researching someone who is realistically a stranger before you let them into your life supposed to feel natural now? I know it’s the smart thing to do, but I can absolutely see why it wouldn’t occur to someone to do that.

That being said, I wish they’d give up the whole “this is real” thing. It’s not real. It’s just not. No three amature filmmakers went out and had all of this organically happen to them WHILE not screwing up on the production end at least once. There was like, two issues with one of the mics throughout the whole film. And an underwater camera shot. We know the movie’s fake. But the FEELINGS, you guys. It’s a beautiful depiction of the complicated emotions and scenarios that this technology has brought into our lives. It’s a tribute to those who have mastered the art of producing feelings from illusions.

Ya know?

FINAL NOTE: On the issue of the movie's lying, sensationalized marketing strategy..... I'm asking people to look past that. We're not electing the movie to office. Forget the propaganda.

The Town

If you haven't seen The Town yet, I highly recommend doing so. Directed by and staring Ben Affleck (big fan), this movie is the best one I've seen since Inception (note the lull in the blog). Set in Boston, it centers on 4 friends who rob banks. I've been told that Affleck managed to truly capture the tone and speech of down-trodden Boston. I don't know about that, being from the South, but I know I had a hard time understanding the dialogue. Still, it only further authenticated the feel of the movie.

The Town is high on action, peppered with a few funny lines, contains a semi-believable love interest, and most importantly has excellent acting. It isn't quite the caliber of movie The Departed was (to which a lot of people are comparing it to) but it is absolutely worth the watch.

$ $ $ $ $ $

Emily

Brooklyn's Finest

We watched Brooklyn's Finest last night, mostly because there was nothing better in Blockbuster. Turns out, its not a completely bad movie. Don Cheadle, Richard Gere, Ethan Hawke, and Wesley Snipes star in the action packed, New York situated, good cop/bad cop movie.


It definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat, not only because of the possibility of a drive-by in every scene, but also because its almost annoyingly complicated. There is some good acting and a lot of potential, but not alot on delivery. It's entertaining and if you're looking for something to rent, sure check it out. Just keep your expectations low and you'll probably think its ok. Although if something else strikes your fancy at Blockbuster, don't linger too long on Brooklyn's Finest.

$ $ $

Emily

The Other Guys

So, its been awhile for the blog. But, I'm going to try to get back to it. So start checking back!

I saw The Other Guys a few weeks ago, and though most people will probably have seen it if they were going to by now, I thought I'd review it. The Other Guys is basically exactly what the previews showed it to be. Another Will Ferrell comedy, with the excellent straight-man Mark Wahlberg. It's funny, but as with most Will Ferrell movies, its better to have low expectations. Not a bad matinee, but at this point if you haven't seen it, just rent it.

$ $ $

Emily

Inception

COOLEST. MOVIE. EVER.

I will say no more, for fear of giving away too much.


$ $ $ $ $ $ $

-Emily

Despicable Me

If you didn't see previews for Despicable Me, you've been living under a rock. I thought this movie looked so cute, so yes, I went on opening night. I was a little let down by how much of the movie I saw already via previews, but I still thought it was really good.

Gru (Steve Carell) is an evil villain who has been shown up by a newcomer, Vector (Jason Segel). He has a new plot and needs the help of three orphan's to get into Vector's house, so he adopts them. Margo, Edith and Agnes are so adorable, and I will be saying "Its so fluffy!!" for months. Likewise, his little yellow minions are AWESOME. In fact you can go to their website and create your own minion. They and the girls are what make the movie.

What I love about cartoons is that you always leave happy. You've learned a nice lesson about becoming a better person, you laugh, you cry, its always satisfying. This movie had all of those and I highly enjoyed seeing it. If you're in the mood for a fun, happy, mood-lifting movie this is a good one. I would definitely go see if you've got an afternoon and a few dollars to spare. Oh, and its in 3D, and who doesn't love 3D?

$ $ $ $ $

Emily

Remember Me

I know, I know... I'm on a R.Patz roll, but I love him. He's hot. Deal with it. On to the movie...

I was a bit skeptical of this movie considering this is Robert Pattinson's first big role aside from Twilight, and I just wasn't sure if it would be a success or a silly little flop. I can say now that it fell farther on the side of success than flop. I'm not going to claim that Pattinson is the greatest actor I've ever seen, but he is delightfully fun to look at. I would not particularly encourage our male readers to catch this film (unless you're a fan of Rob). For our female readers, though, I think this film is worth the watch. I was happily surprised by Remember Me.

Remember Me is essentially a movie about the many people who go on before us and who shape the lives they leave behind. At times the script seems disjointed but it all works towards this central idea, which is truthful and poignant. So while there are pieces of the plot that fell flat or didn't come together as much as they could have, it still made for a decent movie. It is, as most have assumed, a sad movie and while you may have ideas about the end, it was still able to surprise me. (Yes, I did cry)

I thought it was a believable love story with believably flawed characters. It is a story about sadness and loss, which might be disheartening to some but the ultimate point is one of depth. I was pleasantly surprised by this movie, and although it didn't have quite enough to make it a great movie, it did have enough to make it a touching film and one worth seeing. (especially if you like R.Patz as I do...)

$ $ $ $

Emily

Eclipse

Let me preface this by saying: I LOVE VAMPIRES. and werewolves. and wizards. and faeries. and generally all kinds of fantasy beings and stories. Have I read all of the Twilight books? Yes. More than once? Yes. (Sidebar, I am reading Harry Potter 5-7 for the fourth times each, if this helps paint a clearer picture) Therefore:

Eclipse was AWESOME. Definitely the best installment in the Twilight Saga to date. I feel no need to summarize the movie because you shouldn't be seeing it if you haven't read the book (just my opinion on books turned into movies). I had the obsession and foresight to sign myself up to see the first two Twilight movies in a special in-theater deal before being among the first to see Eclipse at midnight. Best decision ever? Needless to say, there is nothing that could have made me not like this movie. Nay, LOVE this movie.

I concede that many people do not share my passion for all things Twilight (Team Jacob!), and that's ok. But, you probably shouldn't see this movie if that is the case. You know who you are that will be seeing this movie, regardless of what I or anyone says about it, and you know who you aren't that won't. I, for one, was delightedly pleased with Eclipse and cannot WAIT for Breaking Dawn part I sometime next year. I will be there at midnight yet again, screaming and clapping and cheering, especially when Jacob isn't wearing a shirt, which lucky for us all, is generally the whole time.

$ $ $ $ $ $

Emily

Black Dahlia

Well, I don't have much to say about this movie except that I got bored after the first 45 minutes and stopped watching it. Its some weird interpretation of an unsolved murder in LA in the 1940s. Josh Hartnett's character is weird, Hillary Swank's character is weird, Scarlett Johansson's character is weird. I don't recommend it.

$

-Emily

Knight and Day

Knight and Day, the new Tom Cruise/Cameron Diaz film opened today and I'll admit the previews reeled me in, but I wasn't sure what to expect. Lucky for me, the previews didn't lie. This is a really fun and enjoyable movie. Its got way more laughs that I was expecting, its got totally, mindlessly great action, its got a dabble of romance and its got Tom. I love Tom Cruise. I tried to hate him during his mentally unstable, jumping on couches phase, but I just dadgummit like him. He can deliver the funny line, he can run and unflinchingly fling himself off high buildings/cliffs/vehicles, and he looks exactly like he did in Top Gun 25 years later.

Unfortunately for Cameron, Tom's magical inability to age makes her look a lot older than she is. They didn't really have the love connection on film I was hoping for, but I can totally believe that any girl would fall in love with a thrill-seeking, spy with Tom's face. Therefore, it was pretty easy to go with the outlandish character that Tom plays and the attraction Cameron's character feels for him.

It was also surprisingly easy to go along with the ridiculously implausible story line and impossible stunts. Hes a spy, shes a regular girl and you spend the movie trying to figure out who is good and who is bad. It was just a FUN movie, not overly complex so don't challenge yourself, just see it to enjoy it. So if you are looking for a nice distraction and entertaining movie, this one is definitely worth seeing. Did I mention that Tom Cruise is in it?

$ $ $ $ $

-Emily

Harsh Times

Do you remember that one guy from high school or college that was always just too crazy to hang out with? Not just getting into trouble, but actively seeking it? Christian Bale is that guy in the unnerving drama, Harsh Times, out on DVD and rental.

Bale is a former Army Ranger, just back from a tour in the Middle East and looking for law enforcement work in his native L.A. He spends his mornings drinking, smoking weed and occassionally holding up rivals at gunpoint and uses his afternoons to take certifications courses for various law enforcement agencies. Neither Bale nor his friends see anything wrong or unusual with this way of living.

Bale, who has become one of my favorite actors, does a great job of adopting a certain type of Mexi-Cali swagger and lingo. The language and backdrops seem genuinely authentic, adding to the drama.

One of the best parts of the film is simply watching Bale get into his character and the intensity that he has. He verges right on the edge of complete psychological disintegration for nearly the entire film. Indeed, his personality dominates everything in the film. His friends do what he wants, his enemies usually end up doing what he wants, and woe to the one's who get in his way. This best part of the movie is also the most unsettling for me. The movie doesn't give any hints as to what will happen, but you just KNOW that things can't end well for Bale or his crew. Someone has to pay for the lifestyle that they lead. He's just too self-destructive for any other outcome.

Everything about the movie seemed well-done, but still, I can't say that I enjoyed it. Perhaps it's because I was just uneasy the entire time, just waiting for Bale to finally lose it completely and descend into madness. If you enjoy drama-tragedies then you might enjoy this movie. I'll wait for Bale's next role.

$$$

- Stuart -

Toy Story 3

Earlier this week, I criticized Hollywood for its lack of new, creative ideas (see Get Him to the Greek).

Now, I will make a list of all the studios that are allowed to make as many prequels, sequels, remakes, and spin-offs as they want:

PIXAR

The third installment of the franchise that began Pixar’s unprecedented string of critically acclaimed hits, Toy Story 3, was released this week. To the surprise of no one, it is a fantastic film.

Our final adventure with Woody, Buzz, and the gang begins with Andy (the owner of the toys that serve as the focal point of the films) preparing to head to college. The toys are anxious and a bit frightened about what their futures will hold.

Does Andy still care about them? Will they ever be played with again? Or, worst of all, will they be thrown away?

Like most Pixar films, there is plenty here for children and adults. In fact, Toy Story 3 might have more meaning for adults than children. Not as funny as The Incredibles or as heartfelt as Up, Toy Story 3 will pull at the heartstrings of any parent who has watched a child leave for college or any person who has lost a dear friend.

Everyone should go see Toy Story 3 (and for that matter every other Pixar film to date). The movie has humor, suspense, action, and heart and is a fitting end to the first franchise from the best studio in Hollywood.

$ $ $ $ $ $

- Kevin

Get Him to the Greek

Who is getting tired of sequels and remakes?

Hollywood to the rescue with a novel idea: a feature film SPIN-OFF.

Essentially, Get Him to the Greek is a spin-off from the hysterical Jason Segel comedy, Forgetting Sarah Marshall. It centers on Sarah Marshall character Aldous Snow, a sex-addict, drug-addict rock star played by Russell Brand. The other main character, Aaron Green, played by Jonah Hill, is quite similar to Jonah Hill’s character in Sarah Marshall (he is still a fan boy obsessed with Aldous Snow, only now he works for a record label in LA rather than a hotel in Hawaii). Did that make your head hurt?

I loved Sarah Marshall, so I figured I would give this movie a shot. Going in, I had several reservations. 1) Could Russell Brand’s shtick as Aldous Snow remain entertaining for more than fifteen minutes? 2) Would the movie have any plot? 3) Would this be the start of more Hollywood spin-offs?

Reservation 1: For the most part, I enjoyed the movie and never got the feeling that it was a comedy sketch being forced into a full-length feature. The most surprising reason why the movie held my attention, Sean Shawn Jean John P. Puff Daddy Diddy Honey Combs. When he was on screen, he commanded attention, and I have a feeling that we are going to be seeing Mr. Combs in a lot more movies from this point forward.

Reservation 2: The movie had a decent plot. It is about taking chances, finding yourself, and recognizing the importance of relationships. That being said, there are some strange scenes where the comedy is lacking and the characters become unlikable (such as during an awkward three-way).

Reservation 3: It seems that we are on the cusp of Hollywood’s new way to avoid creativity: the spin-off. I actually enjoy remakes and sequels (for the most part), but am wary of adding another way to avoid new ideas. I want to see something original, but if the studios have their way, it looks like we are in store for more retreaded material. For example, it sounds like the Tom Cruise-Les Grossman experience will be coming our way in full feature format sooner rather than later.

In the end, the movie was enjoyable. It had funny and heartfelt moments along with unfunny and awkward ones. If you were a big fan of Forgetting Sarah Marshall or have an affinity for Puffy, I would definitely recommend it. Otherwise, I would probably wait and catch it on DVD.

$ $ $ $

- Kevin

Revolutionary Road

Following in the footsteps of my Ode to Leo, I'd like to talk about another of his movies that I just recently watched. I am a huge Sam Mendes fan, so I can't believe I didn't catch this one in the theaters. However, upon watching it, I am glad I waited to see it. This is my least favorite Mendes film. Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio deliver great performances as April and Frank Wheeler, although it is neither one's best film. (Note, Winslet did win the Golden Globe for it)

The story follows a young couple in the 1950s as they struggle through mundane suburban life. They think of themselves as different and unique but are forced to come to grips with the ordinariness that is their lives. It is the picture of an unhappy marriage and an unhappy life. Neither Frank nor April has much in the way of positive attributes, and it was hard for me to relate to, or empathize with, either one of the philandering, self centered, moral-less, depressing main characters.

Mendes tends to make films that show a dark side of life, and unlike American Beauty which succeeded with magnificence, Revolutionary Road fell far short. I can see why the Academy jilted the movie of a best picture nomination, it was just flat out depressing. It was not depressing in a profound or poignant way, just a sad and draining way. Life just can't possibly be that terrible, and I sure don't want to spend two hours trying to being convinced that it might be.

Revolutionary Road wasn't totally a bad movie. It was interesting in many ways, but it was also totally unoriginal in many ways. A distraught portrayal of marriage in the '50s? Not a new concept. A husband and wife that fight all the time? Also not new. A tragic end to tragic characters? Certainly not new, and definitely not fun to watch. Well acted? Absolutely. Well filmed? Yes.

In sum, fans of Mendes might find something to like in the film. Those who tend to like dark movies might find something to like in the film as well. However, as I can claim both of these tendencies, I could not find much to like in Revolutionary Road.

$ $ $

-Emily

Sex and the City 2

Let me make a couple claims before I begin this review. Yes, I watched Sex and the City the show, although not for many years later on DVD. Yes, I saw the first Sex and the City movie. However, I am not now, nor have I ever been the die-hard fan that many people are. With that said, I appreciate that there will be people who disagree with this review (not movie critics though).

Sex and the City 2 was just not a great movie. It was barely even a good movie. Come on, girls, lets be honest. The show had original and relate-able stories and characters; stories about love, friendship, adversity, and hope. I loved the way the show portrayed the difficulty of being a working woman, learning to balance men, friends, work, play, fashion, heck even cancer. It was a GREAT show. They never should have even made them into movies to begin with (although, I did like the first movie just fine). But, point remains, the show should have been allowed to stand on its own feet, to be the innovative series that it was.

The movies have turned the series into exactly what people criticized the show for without seeing any episodes; vapid and empty. Sure, its got pretty colors and lots of nice clothes (although, seriously, what was with that stupid headband at the wedding that Carrie was wearing??) but it had nothing else, it didn't even have a good story. At least the first movie had a decent story line. The second movie was just a sparkly advertisement for Abu Dhabi, !hello! I want New York!! Sex and the City 2 follows Miranda as she quits her job (totally out of character for Miranda, the hardworking, committed lawyer); Charlotte as she deals with the difficulty of raising children (always her dream in the show, always the optimist now the reluctant realist); Samantha as she attempts to subdue menopause and still find the hottest man in the room (too bad she can't just embrace her age at this point like she did with cancer); and as always Carrie in her self-complicated relationship with Big (which she, after all these years, still can't be satisfied with).

Sex and the City 2 just totally missed the boat for me. There was a glimmering moment when Miranda and Charlotte are discussing the trials and hardships of motherhood that had me hearkening back to the Sex and the City days of old; days of depth and warmth and the struggles that made these four characters so loved by those who watched them. Aside from this and a few other scenes (NOT the entire wedding part, NOT Liza Minnelli, NOT the totally unbelievable part with Carrie and Aiden, NOT the Aladdin version of the Middle East) there was little that remains from the show; little that was worth watching.

If you are a Sex and the City fan, then I'm sure if you haven't already seen it, you will regardless of what anyone says about it. But for anyone else, don't feel like you've missed much, just rewatch the show instead. I just hope they don't make another movie.

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-Emily