Eat Pray Love (2010)

I love a good road or travel film so when I saw the trailer for this film I was ecstatic. I'm a spiritual person so I was really looking for a message or something to apply to my own life from Liz's adventures. Little did I know that I was going to get much more than I bargained for.

"Eat Pray Love" is a film directed by Ryan Murphy who is quickly becoming a household name mostly being known as the creator of the hit TV series "Glee". The film stars Julia Roberts, Billy Crudup, James Franco, Javier Bardem, Viola Davis, Richard Jenkins, and Christine Hakim. The film is about a woman named Liz Gilbert who is unhappy with the calculated choices she has made in here life so she leaves everything and everyone behind to travel the world in search of herself. In the film she visits Italy, India, and Bali experience three different kinds of pleasure. Eating, Praying, and loving. Not only do I love this film, I connected to it on a deep personal level. I completely identified with Liz and almost everything that she said regarding her life. It's not easy for us to give up on everything and not have money and see the world. We went to have the comfort of knowing that we have somewhere safe to lay our head every night and it takes a sacrifice to do what Liz did. She had a book advance to travel with but everyday people don't have that luxury. I often think about taking the road less traveled and I felt like my hunger was temporarily quenched during this film because I was so emotionally invested. Aside from the bias, I really feel that the critics were harsh in their reviews. Honestly, I don't give a damn what critics say about film anymore because I think they've seen so many movies that they've been desensitized and they often glaze over most films unless it's a film they actually want to see. I don't give a fuck. I never pay attention to critics or listen to them. Hell, if I did that I probably would only see one or two films a year.

Julia Roberts is a marvel as always but here you get to see her differently. The way she portrays Liz is that of someone who knows what they want but doesn't know what they want. As she goes to each country she is thrown into the unknown and she handles it the best way that she knows how. All the supporting performers are good as well but one that stood out to me was Javier Bardem's character Felipe. Here is a man who is utterly charming and seems to live in a happy existence but he doesn't completely. He's afraid to love again after losing his wife and he can't let himself go from that. It's a very subtle and heartbreaking performance. It's brilliant. Sure you can see this film as a narcissistic, unrealistic, slow, and so much beautiful eye candy in it that the plot suffers but if you just let yourself see the movie for what it is then you will learn something from it. In a larger sense this film isn't about Liz at all, it's about our lives and how we choose to live them and what paths we choose to take. We can be bound to another or to no one at all and that to me is worth the price of admission. It's a beautiful film and should be seen if not for Julia Roberts. It's like watching three different films really because each segment has a different story to tell even though we're dealing with the same woman.

I don't even have to tell you that the cinematography is impeccable. If you don't like the movie, you can at least admire what you see. Colors are radiant and there's almost an angelic glow to most of the scenes to almost signify some sort of perpetual spiritual awakening throughout the film. There is a beautiful BEAUTIFUL shot that they actually show in the trailer of Javier Bardem grabbing hold of Julia's hands and the sun shines through their hands. I often wonder how filmmakers get shots like that. Overall the cinematography is breathtaking.

There is a very interesting choice of music used in this film and what you get essentially is an eclectic selection. It's definitely a soundtrack that you would have playing in the background at some chill party or a romantic evening with that special someone. However, it fit the film in all it's different locales.

Julia Roberts radiates in this and there were a few times a mist appeared in my eyes. It's a story for those who feel trapped in their lives and want to make a change. Those who are practical need not apply. If you've ever thought of experience what reckless abandon feels like, this movie will give you a taste of living in the moment and not planning your whole life out like a list of to-dos until you're dead. Highly recommended for those who want more out of life.

The Social Network (2010)

It's been a long while since I posted here, mostly because I got distracted with things that I shouldn't have been distracted by...trivial nonsense. Now I'm back and I promise to be more attentive to my blog. If, for no better reason, to sharpen my writing skills. Also, I haven't been going to the movies that much until recently so I have some films to tell you about.

It was only a matter of time before the story of how Facebook came to be would surface now that it is a global entity. When I heard that they were making a movie about it I was not impressed. I thought, why would anyone want to see a movie about that? Then I heard that Justin Timberlake was going to be in it and I wasn't impressed with that either. Not that I have anything against Justin Timberlake. I was more disappointed because I wanted him to choose better roles. Then there was the attachment of one of my favorite directors, David Fincher. That's when I thought, this might be something.

"The Social Network" is a film directed by David Fincher and stars Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Brenda Song, Rooney Mara, Armie Hammer, and Max Minghella. The film is about the birth of Facebook and how it came to be what it is today. This film has so much going for it that I don't know where to begin to gush. I left this film surprised, captivated, and stimulated. This film not only told a compelling story but also was a very modern story about social interaction. It was a great commentary on how easy it is to get sucked into the glory of it all and the consequences of one's actions. It's a cautionary tale yet, at the same time, it's a story of loyalty and friendship and college life. It's a great film and has the potential to be the film of the year as so many other critics have already said. The film is also brimming with talent that we're sure to hear more of after this film. You're literally watching the birth of careers on screen and it's a joy to watch.

Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg is definitely a performance for the ages. In the past I've always seen Jesse as a young Woody Allen type who would always play the same roles but I like him. This film shatters that thought completely. He really shows that he's much more than that in this film. Playing Mark with such tenacity and such verve. Every emotion that Mark feels, you see it written all over Jesse's face. You really get a sense of who Mark Zuckerberg is and who he thinks he should be. He's not really seen in a good way in this film throughout most of it but much like most of us he was just a kid who wanted to fit in any way he could and he didn't care how he got that acceptance. It's acting at it's finest. Andrew Garfield, who we will all know soon worldwide because he's been cast as the new Spider-man in the reboot of the franchise, is also a revelation. He captures the character of Eduardo with a sensibility that I haven't seen in an actor in a while. A subtle and sad performance that really makes you feel for what his character faces in this film. Andrew has an amazing career ahead of him and here you get to see his beginning. Another great performance, and surprise, came from Justin Timberlake. I was wondering when he would pop his cherry acting wise and he has done it here. No doubt David Fincher is responsible for his performance but nevertheless Justin portrayed the flawed creator of Napster creator Sean Parker. We really don't know Sean's history or how he came to be but Timberlake portrays him so flawlessly that in every scene he's in, you learn a lot about Sean without having to know his history through exposition. Harvard is the honorary character here and it is portrayed in a way I think that we all thought of it to be. It's elitist environment is a complete with exclusive "clubs" and secrets that would potentially carry on into their adult lives thus creating men and women who deceive.

The cinematography, like most of Fincher's films, has a muted palette. Colors are drab and has a neutral look to it which total encapsulates the tone of the film and the story. There's a lot of deep blacks and dim dorm rooms to sort of give you the authentic feel of being on a college campus. Even during the day scenes there isn't much light which gives the feel of a foreshadowing doom throughout the first half of the film. Shots of the Harvard campus look great and picturesque but at the same time looks like a deserted island for those of privilege and the lucky. All in all the perfect accompaniment to this story.

The score and music to this film fit it like a glove mostly due to the fact that Nine Inch Nails' frontman Trent Reznor helped compose it. Luckily the theater I went to see this film in was bombastic and the sound literally took you into the film. This was a very modern score to go with a very modern film and anything else would've taken away from the film. It was used in a way to punctuate certain scenes and it certainly did that. The writing was stellar and Aaron Sorkin did a masterful job. The dialogue was sharp and precise and very intriguing. I can't get over how well this was written. It makes me jealous as a fellow screenwriter. If this doesn't, at least, get a screenplay Oscar nod then that would be VERY unjust.

This was a very refreshing movie going experience and I would have to strongly recommend you see this film. If not for the film itself then at least for the performances because they deserve attention. Plus it's very interesting to see how Facebook became. This film has got everything going for it and it may very well be the movie of the year.

Toy Story 3 (2010)

It's no surprise that Pixar animation studios pretty much has a monopoly on the world of animated films. Each year they release a film that is even more successful than the previous year and they don't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Dare I say that Disney might of went down if it wasn't for Pixar. So when I heard stories about a third entry in the Toy Story series, honestly, I wasn't all that excited. Then I saw the teaser trailer and, still, no excitement. However, every one else seemed to be excited about it. Don't get me wrong, I did love the first two. I just didn't see a reason for a third one and when I saw the actual theatrical trailer I was underwhelmed.

Toy Story 3 is a film directed by Lee Unkrich and stars the voice talents of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty, Don Rickles, Michael Keaton, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Estelle Harris, Jodi Benson, John Morris, and Laurie Metcalf. This film picks up ten years after the last one and now sees Andy, 17, bound for college. This sort of creates a crisis for the toys because now their future is uncertain. They are donated to a daycare called Sunnyside with new adventures to have and presumably to start a new chapter in their lives. The idea of always having kids to play with them for years and years is very strong plot point and a very valid reason for these toys to want to be there. After realizing that Sunnyside isn't what it seems, Woody and Buzz, along with the other toys, plan an escape that results in one of the biggest adventures in Pixar's lineup of films. That's the plot in a nutshell in fear of giving too much away.

Much to my surprise, I was completely blown away by this film. This is a five star animated film in every respect and I have to say that it could be one of Pixar's BEST. I should've never doubted Pixar for a moment. It's very rare for an animated film to make me emote and that's exactly what happened here. I laughed, I nearly cried, and was on the edge of my seat in the film's final moments. It was like going to a reunion where you expect the worst but it turns out to be the best time you've had in a while with people you love. These characters have been with us for fifteen years and I fell in love with them all over again and was reminded of why I loved them so much to begin with. These characters are as timeless as the story that's being told here and it was fun to spend time with old friends.

I'm amazed at what Pixar has done here. Every little detail is accounted for and fleshed out. Completely authentic in it's approach, there's a scene near the beginning where we see home videos of Andy growing up as Randy Newman's classic song "You've Got A Friend In Me" plays on. Brilliance. Years have gone by so the toys have wear and tear on them and it's so authentic and so real, that you can't help but admire it. They've really done their homework and have crafted a story that is heartfelt and very human. The validity of the human condition in this animated film surpasses any live action film that I've seen lately and that is both great and sad. The emotions on their faces are priceless and real. It goes to show you that animated films have come a long way and they are now in position to challenge live action film. They even pushed the boundaries in this film and actually went to a VERY dark place that I didn't even expect. All I will tell you is that the scene I'm referring to, takes place in a landfill and it's the one scene that, when you see it, you'll see the most human moment in the entire film. The fact that the filmmakers weren't afraid to go to a dark place and took that risk was both gratifying and refreshing.

Another thing that Pixar has done here with Toy Story 3 is that they managed to seamlessly put us back into this world that they created fifteen years ago. The dialogue is sharper, better, and wittier than ever and the film manages to cater to the most general of audiences. Adults and kids alike will cherish this film. There were moments when I thought, wow, this is very well written and whoever wrote this deserves some sort of award. It's even more relevant than it was fifteen years ago when we were first charmed by Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and friends. There was even a new song recorded by Randy Newman entitled "We Belong Together" which strongly captures the whole theme of this new story.

I strongly recommend this film for any age group. The message it sends is as timeless as the characters themselves which is, you can always get by with a little help from your friends. Never have I seen an animated film, besides "Up", that manages to capture the human condition and challenges it's live action counterparts. It was endearing and heartfelt and will bring out the kid in all of you. Toy Story 3 is now playing in theaters everywhere and I have included a trailer just in case you've been in a cave for the past year.

Sex And The City 2 (2010)

Sex And The City is a franchise that you either love or you hate. It started out as a ground breaking show on HBO and at the time no one was doing anything like that on TV. Then the series ended in 2004. Four years later, a film version of the show was made and the fans devoured it making it on the most successful films of the summer of 2008. It even beat out "Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull" in the box office. The characters are now more fleshed out and more evolved and even though these aren't the same characters from the show, they still manage to keep the magic alive by being taboo. The headlines and critics are a flutter about this new installment and truth be told, that's what makes Sex And The City what it is. It's always causing a stir.

Now, before I get into what I think will be a VERY lengthy review I have to say a few things. Yes, I am a HUGE fan of Sex And The City. I own the entire series on DVD and the first film on Blu Ray. I have watched all the commentaries on the selected episodes and the film. I've known these characters for ten years of my life and I really feel like they're my friends and I know them inside and out. Now, that being said, I do understand why people are saying what they're saying about this film and I just want to sort of give some insight as well as a review.

Sex And The City 2 is a film directed by Michael Patrick King and stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, and Chris Noth. This film picks up two years after the first film and the stories of the four women continue in New York City. Carrie and Big are working out marriage kinks, Samantha is on a mission to keep her sex life active, Charlotte is dealing with two rowdy kids and a nanny that she thinks will steal her husband, and Miranda is stressed over her new boss at work. Samantha gets an opportunity to go to Abu Dhabi for a PR trip and she invites the girls on a fun filled adventurous romp with temptations around every corner. First of all I have to say I've seen this film twice and I love it. I thought it was the fun romp that we miss seeing from the show. I'll get into more details later. Right now I want to talk about the politics of the film and talk about why it's getting so much flack. This is a "you either love it or you hate it" film.

First of all, the change of the cities was a big issue, I think. New York has been a staple on the show and it was practically the fifth character in the story. That's what people liked about it, it made New York this magical place full of love, fashion, adventure, and beauty. Most people that I've talked to seem to like the first hour of the film when they are in New York because they are more real there and don't like the second half because it's when they become fake and racist. I love how people and critics alike are making this film the end all be all of social commentary. I mean seriously people? It's a MOVIE meant for mindless escapist fun in a society dealing with recession and depression. It's eye candy, it's fun, it's camp. Get over it. Not all movies are meant to be Citizen Kane and make a statement for that matter. Then you have the fans complaining that they don't like it because the characters are different now and that they would never do the things that they do in this film. People change, people evolve over time. No one is going to stay the same forever and yes this is a movie but they have been following a pattern of growth over the years and these characters may not have acted like this in the past, but they have grown and are dealing with different shit now. Samantha got the most criticism for her behavior in this and I disagree with everything everyone said. Samantha has always been a woman who does whatever the hell she wants and when she wants. She has even gotten into arguments with her friends over it in the show. That being said, Samantha was in a place where she couldn't do what she wanted to do and at every turn she was being judged or told not to do something. So yes she acted crazy by the end, but it was a build up of frustration that any American would build up in a foreign country.

These women aren't doing things that Americans wouldn't do in a foreign country. People act differently when they go on trips. It's a bloody fact. I don't think this film was racist at all and it certainly didn't mean to be racist. Americans are always curious about other customs different from their own. That's what I saw. Just white women not understanding and questioning why things were the way they were there. They don't know any better and they didn't mean any harm. They were concerned and confused about what they should do there. My mom went to see this movie with people who were from the Middle East and they thought it was a hoot. They enjoyed it a lot and thought that it gave the audience insight into their culture. So how is it racist, then, if they felt that way about it? I think that goes with people being way too sensitive about things. I could see if it was blatantly racist but it wasn't. I also partly think that people who don't like Sex And The City in the first place are looking for a reason to bash it. Don't see the movie if you don't like it. Simple. Then you won't waste your time and blog space talking about how much you hate it and the reasons why when you already knew you were going to hate it. It's not for everyone. Everyone is way too serious about this film. This is what the fans wanted. They wanted a romp because they complained about the last one being too slow and dull. Now they get what they want and still don't like it. You can't please everyone.

I've listened to Michael Patrick King talk about the story and the characters over the years so much that I know exactly what his vision is. He's not looking to make a statement. He's just looking to make a fun movie while evolving his characters. That's all it is plain and simple. Then there's the fashion of the movie which people are complaining about too. Like I said before, it's eye candy. Why wouldn't anyone want to see nice things while we're dealing with shit. I question now do people even know what they want to watch anymore. This film was fun and beautiful to look at to boot. It was a breath of fresh air to me. Everyone has their thing that they like. Why can't people have their right to like fashion? Why is it so wrong to want or buy a Louis Vuitton bag? That's what they like. They work hard for it, they deserve it. People treat fashion like it's some sort of devil. Why can't people want to look nice and wear nice things? Yes the movie was fashion on steroids but that's the whole image of Sex And The City to begin with. It hasn't changed. So I don't know why everyone was acting brand new about it now. I'm just tired and frustrated of reading all these bad blind reviews. All they see is what they want to see and most of these people hate Sex And The City anyway. As for the fans who hate it, well maybe you were expecting something that you'll never get because these characters are different now. they're not gonna be the same as they were on the show, let it GO.

What I liked about the film is that the performances were very layered in this one. The actresses know their characters so well now that it seems effortless. Sarah Jessica Parker does an amazing job of portraying Carrie dealing with marriage and her dissatisfaction with her couch potato husband, Big. She has to go through what she has to go through in the movie to learn a lesson about marriage and I think that's one of the strong points of the film. Kim Cattrall is funny as an age battling Samantha and you can really see her frustration build up throughout the film. Her character is taken to a place that limits her abilities and Kim portrays that flawlessly. Kristin Davis really shocked me in this with her performance. There's a scene when she was crying in the pantry because of her overwhelming kids, it was AMAZING and real. I think that was the most real I've ever seen Charlotte and her facial expressions are fantastic. Cynthia Nixon does a wonderful job of portraying the now happy Miranda. It was so great to finally see Miranda without the stick up her ass and having a good time. She was neutral and beautiful and I loved how she played it. Chris Noth as Big had more to do this time and he displayed a very nuanced performance that I fell in love with.

The opening sequence as far as pizazz was a little bit of a letdown for me because I liked the first film's opening sequence so much. When I heard Alicia Keys' "Rapture" I was very excited to see how they would orchestrate it. They didn't really use the song the way I thought they were going to use it. I did like the flashbacks though. That was cool and funny. The cinematography was exquisite. New York and the clothes never looked so good and Abu Dhabi (Morocco) was stunning! I enjoyed every minute of what I was seeing on screen. The set design, the locations, and the story were all so well done. It was a definite upgrade from the first film. Bigger and better. They didn't feature the songs from the soundtrack that much, most of them were playing in the background, but that's not a big deal.

There were a couple of cheesetastic moments in this film that made me cringe a little but it's not a deal breaker for the entire film as a whole. You'll see what I'm talking about. All in all I recommend this film if you haven't already been scared off by the press. It's just a fun movie to see. That's all it is. Nothing more, nothing less than an escapist fantasy with a real story mixed in for balance. This film isn't racist or anything that critics are saying. If anything it just exposes our curiosity about other cultures and how we misunderstand them. So check your brain at the door and enjoy! I've included a clip from the movie...

9 (2009)

Animated films these days are just as, if not more, compelling as live action film and they are becoming more universal as far as age groups. Adults and kids alike can come together and make a film gross more than 200 million dollars worldwide. So when Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov ("Wanted") get on the animated train, it's just something that you go see period. Now the two producers are producing another animated film called "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter". Now that sounds awesome!

"9" is a film directed by Shane Acker and stars the voice talents of Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, John C. Reilly, Christopher Plummer, Crispin Glover, and Martin Landau. This film is about 9, a rag doll in a post apocalyptic world holding the key to the future of humanity. After a war between humans and machines the world has been left with no human life. Now 9 fights, along with other numbered rag dolls, a huge machine called "Brain" to destroy the machines.

I have to say right off the bat that this is a very ambitious animated film. It has a very unique sense of style and Shane Acker really brings the vision to life in a very effective way. The animation is a wonder to behold and the design and look of this world is executed perfectly. However, I felt that this is a film that held back. It really didn't utilize the set up. This could've been a groundbreaking animated film, and it is to a certain degree, but it spends too much time worrying about the plot that it forgets it's external function. The world never fully comes to life. I did enjoy the film though. It reminded me of Don Bluth's animated films back in the day and how much I loved that aesthetic that most animated films don't have anymore. Don wasn't afraid to be dark and Shane is the same way. The eye candy is amazing. Especially on blu-ray. The effects are outstanding and the sound design is euphoric. For a home theater enthusiast like me, this is reference material.

The voice acting was as well as could be expected by a cast such as this. Most of the dialogue seemed repetitive at times but not enough to be annoying. By the end of the film you do sort of feel like you haven't seen enough. You feel almost like you have blue balls and you can't have an orgasm. I was really looking for that spark that would make this animated film different from the rest. It does have a difference but not enough to make me LOVE it.

I do highly recommend this film though. You have to see it to judge it for yourself. It's an original film and has everything going for it, but you may feel like you want more at the end. Netflix it and enjoy the eye candy.

Moonlight Serenade (2009)

Anytime there's a film that involves music, I'm there. Any film that involves jazz music, I'm just as good as sold. So when I heard there was a film about a jazz singer starring Amy Adams, one of my favorite actresses, it was a must see for me. I was surprised in more ways than one with this film.

"Moonlight Serenade" is a film directed by Giancarlo Tallarico and stars Amy Adams, Alec Newman, Moon Bloodgood, Harriet Sansom Harris, and Michael Raymond-James. The film is about a business man by day and a piano player by night named Nate Holden. Nate isn't very happy with his job but pretends very well and he is on the verge of a very big deal. One night he meets a coat check girl at a jazz club and she tries to convince him to perform a musical act with her after hearing him play. The plot is simple enough and sticks to that formula as well as it can.

There is so many problems with this film and I'm actually surprised that Amy Adams signed on for this mess of a film. Sure this film has enormous promise, but like a few films that I've reviewed before, this never heightens to it's potential. The entire idea is wasted for a formulaic set up. I wanted to love this film so bad and I was shocked to discover that it wasn't a gem. This film looked cheap to me like a film student may have shot it and edited it. However, I think even a film student could do a better job. The film just felt stilted most of the time and some of the performances, not including Amy of course, were wooden and over the top at times. That's another thing, the writing of this film was horrible. The dialogue wasn't real, it felt like dialogue and no viewer should be able to tell the difference. I suppose I shouldn't have expected much from a direct-to-video film but these days those films have been better than usual and even has you questioning why they didn't get a theatrical release, hello "Trick 'R Treat".

Amy Adams is obviously the best thing about this film but even she falls prey to the material given to her. She plays the part with as much conviction as she can and it works wonderfully. Alec Newman is alright but not great. He definitely has potential to be a great actor. The most ANNYOYING actress in this film is Harriet Sansom Harris. In every other film that she's in, she's great but in this she just ruined it for me. She was probably the worst performer in this entire film and if you don't know who she is, you will know her after you see this because she'll annoy the hell out of you. Moon Bloodgood was wasted as the seductress and her character's story never gets developed.

This film could've gone so many ways. It could've even had some noir in it. It's a jazz film it would've fit the profile. The director didn't craft the film it seems like. The look of the film is great, particularly in the club scenes. It has it's mild charm and succeeds in being charming occasionally but never uses the city of New York to it's full advantage and that, my cinephile friends, is a crime in itself. In other scenes the sets looked cheap. I do admire the fact that this film was made. It takes a lot to make a film and the very fact that this was a vision that was finished says something. He just made a film and put jazz music in it. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone but if you're curious, netflix it.

The Wackness (2008)

It's been a while since I've written a review but I have watched nearly two dozen films since and I'm going to be writing until I get them all in here. I'll also finally put up my Best of 2009 list even though it's WAY too late for it now.

I adore Sony Pictures Classics because they almost always put out quality films much like Fox Searchlight Pictures.

"The Wackness" is distributed by Sony Pictures Classics and was praised at the Sundance Film festival in January 2008. The film is directed by Jonathan Levine and it stars Josh Peck, Ben Kingsley, Famke Janssen, Olivia Thirlby, Mary Kate Olsen, Method Man, and Jane Adams. The film takes place in the summer of 1994 in New York City and follows the coming of age journey of a recent high school grad, Luke Shapiro. After graduating from high school, Luke spends most of his summer dealing pot and seeing his shrink. He ultimately falls in love with the shrinks daughter, Steph, while having drug fueled hang out time with her father and his shrink. Luke also has to deal with his parents constantly fighting over money and their pending eviction from their apartment so he tries to help out by selling more dope.

This is a neat creative little film that I did enjoy intermittently. The performances are decent and the music takes you back in time. The thing that I liked about this film is that it takes place in the summer of 1994 and it sort of reminds you of days when things weren't as bad as they are now. The music reminds you of the time when hip hop was actually hip hop and not some hybrid of something else like it is, for the most part, now. There was a lot of neat little fantasy sequences that I thought were pretty great and added more life to the film. Mostly it makes you fall in love with New York all over again if you weren't in love with it enough before. Josh Peck's performance is a good one but sometimes I felt like he was mumbling a lot of the time which may or may not be intended. Ben Kingsley, as always, is fantastic in this as a drug addicted shrink. He really doesn't have much to work with, but he makes it work because he's so good at what he does. Olivia Thirlby does a great job of playing Steph. The reason I say that is because the character she's playing is like so many teenage girls. They don't know what they want, they just want to have fun and she plays that confusion VERY well. I think she's a very underrated actress. The rest of the performances were decent enough to keep the film afloat and I felt like most of the supporting actors were wasted in this.

As far as the film itself, I did enjoy it for the most part, like I said, but sometimes it felt too far fetched or that it was trying too hard to be the "cool indie flick of the year". However, there are things about it that warrant a viewing. The soundtrack alone, the cinematography has a golden tint to it and make the city look beautiful and also sort of a softness to it, and Ben Kingsley's performance.

So if you're looking for a neat little indie flick to watch, I recommend this. It's a fun watch and you might want to leave your brain at the door for this one. Enjoy!

The Kids Are Alright Trailer

Julianne Moore and Annette Bening in the same film?!?! That's all I need, I'm there!!

The Good The Bad The Weird Trailer

Hmmm...this looks like it could be something....

Buried Trailer

Oh man I just got CHILLS...this is my worst nightmare realized!!

I Spit On Your Grave (2010) Trailer

NOW THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!

The American Trailer

YES...looks like George Clooney is continuing to pick his roles VERY wisely...

You Again Trailer

This looks like a nice filler movie and I don't mean that in a bad way...

Sex And The City 2 Official Full Trailer

The moment has FINALLY come and I couldn't be more happier than I am right now to see more footage from my most anticipated Summer movie of the year...This looks FANTASTIC!! I've got to hand it to Michael Patrick King, the cinematography looks excellent!

The Square Trailer

Could be a sleeper hit...

Kites Trailer

Um wow, lol...I might have to see this just for the sheer camp of it all. However, The films looks beautiful. The images are very pleasing to the eye, we'll have to see if it's actually good but this has "B" movie written all over it and I LOVE that! Plus, I like when romance and adventure is mixed. The trailer is cheese-tastic but I might be surprised...

Tron Legacy Trailer

I have to admit, I actually want to see this. It looks stylish and well made. I haven't seen the original TRON, but I think I might have to educate myself soon.

I Am Love Trailer

Ok, when I see a trailer like this, it reminds me of why I want to do want I want to do. This, my friends, is the true example of a cinematic achievement. Judging from the trailer, I can't WAIT to see this.

Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky Trailer

When I see a trailer like this, I get really excited. Sony Pictures Classics is an underrated distributor and they put out some great films that are cinematically fantastic. I have a soft spot for foreign films as it is and I LOVED the beauty of this trailer...

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World Trailer

This looks original and fantastic...I love to see something different and so far this is the only summer film besides Sex And The City 2 that I'm dying to see. I'm sure there are others but I haven't seen the trailers yet...

Alice In Wonderland (2010)

Anytime Tim Burton announces a project I always know that it's going to be great visually. He has a style that is unique and only he can do. All of his characters are practically a family because they all sort of look the same. His original stories became classics and the stories that he remade such as "Sweeney Todd","Sleepy Hollow", and "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory" became classics in their own right because of his signature stamp. So when he announced "Alice In Wonderland", which was practically made for Burton to direct, I fucking lost my shit.

"Alice In Wonderland" is directed by Tim Burton and stars Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover, and the voice talents of Michael Sheen, Stephen Fry, and Alan Rickman. In this film Alice is now nineteen and returns to Wonderland only to find out that she is the only one who can slay the Jabberwocky, a dragon like creature owned by the red queen. I don't even have to tell you that this film is a visual FEAST and the fact that I saw it in 3D made it even better. Johnny Depp is a wonder as the Mad Hatter, it's almost as if this man can play any character. Plus working with Tim Burton for the hundredth time doesn't hurt either. These two really get each other and they've had a working relationship since "Edward Scissorhands". Mia Wasikowska as Alice threw me off a little bit at first. Her performance sneaks up on you because you think that she's not really doing a good job at playing Alice because she's sort of one note throughout the film. However, as you watch, you begin to understand why she was chosen. This is like beyond subtle performances my friends. There is something working internally in her throughout this entire film and that speaks volumes about her acting chops. Whether she did it on purpose or not doesn't matter. Helena Bonham Carter nearly stole the whole damn show as the big headed, loud mouthed queen. I love how she spontaneously has outbursts throughout the film that are wonderfully psychotic.

Now there's so much I can say about the film itself. I was a little disappointed because I'm a hardcore Alice In Wonderland fan. I'm a big fan of the 1951 Disney animated film and I was longing for that complete nonsense. A Wonderland where there is demented life and curiousness around every bend. This film definitely sacrificed that minimal narrative coherence that made people fall in love with the story. I figured Tim Burton would be the master at that but he totally went in another direction. Making Alice older and taking us on a completely different journey, which can be a blessing or a curse. Also the film felt like it meandered at some points but you're so in awe of the visuals that you're enchanted anyway. I did enjoy the film as a whole though. The special effects were seamless and amazing and there wasn't a moment you thought they seemed fake.

This film is definitely worth seeing for the 3D experience alone, but don't be thrown off by my review. It's a visual treat and it's Tim Burton!

The Lovely Bones (2009)

I really didn't know much about this film other than it was a bestselling book that was now being made into a film. I always feel out of the intellectual loop when I believe that a film is an original idea. Though I should know that these days a lot of films are based on books or some sort of literary work these days. I guess there's a part of me that holds out hope for something completely original, which doesn't happen often these days in film. Well, at least not mainstream films.

"The Lovely Bones" is a film directed by Peter Jackson, who most people know as the director of HUGE budget fare such as "The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy" and "King Kong". The film stars Saoirse Ronan, Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Amanda Michalka, Stanley Tucci, Michael Imperioli, and Rose McIver. The film is narrated by Ronan and is about the rape and murder of her character and she watches from heaven as her family deals with her death and the search for the man who murdered her. It's a very involving film and the performances are top notch. First, I have to talk about Stanley Tucci. WOW. He really embodies his character here and that's very scary. His character is wonderfully creepy if that makes any sense and the subject matter only makes the character even creepier than he already is. You can definitely tell that Tucci did his homework with this character. His voice his different and he has these creepy eyes, which are probably contacts, in. Saoirse Ronan does a wonderful job playing this very difficult role of a girl who is raped and murdered and discovers life on the other side while not wanting to except the other side until her killer is caught. It's a lot to ask from a young actress but Ronan is right up there with Dakota Fanning. Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz do a solid job of supporting this heavy story and their performances are the very definition of support. They add an extra weight to the story. Susan Sarandon is darkly funny as the alcoholic grandmother who helps the family in her own dysfunctional way. She really adds some sort of comedic relief to the film.

As a heavyweight director, I'm pretty sure that Peter Jackson wanted to do something a little lighter. After "King Kong" wouldn't you? The effort shown here is definitely something to be desired and even admired. However, this is one of those films that is very muddled. Visually this film is great. Jackson knows how to do visuals very well, but he handles this story, with such a heavy subject matter, and almost puts a family friendly stamp on it. It's understandable in order to appeal to the widest possible audience, but it can definitely hurt the film. I really felt this film was in the "in between" like Ronan's character in the film. It's stuck between being bad and great. Having said that, it's definitely worth seeing for the visuals and the performances alone. I just felt that the pacing of the film and the events that are shown are a little muddled and almost confuse you at times. Also once again I felt the ending was rushed. Some films spend so much time with the setup that by the time they start telling the actual story, there's no time. So there was a rush to end things I felt like.

I'm pretty sure that the blu ray of this film will be a marvel to look at and that really where this film is the strongest. All in all I would say definitely see it. The DVD and blu ray is released on April 20th but it might still be in theaters if you want that experience.

UP (2009)

Pixar is a force to be reckoned with. I pity any other animation studio because Pixar knocks it out the park EVERY SINGLE FUCKING TIME...How do they do it? Who is working for them? No one really knows but it's definitely a team of the best in the business. Their stories are always so heartfelt and funny and adventurous and there's always layers of story that are just compelling.

"UP" is a film directed By Pete Doctor and co-directed by Bob Peterson. It stars the voice talents of Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, and Bob Peterson. The film is about an old man named Carl Fredrickson who flies his house to a spot where his late wife always wanted to go, paradise falls. It's the sweetest film I have seen in a long time and it's very rare for an animated film to make me emotional. He accidentally takes a young wilderness scout with him and they go on an adventure into the unknown. I have to say that when I first heard about "UP", all I knew is that a flying house and an old man were involved and I honestly didn't worry about the content because I knew that Pixar would deliver. This film was the second animated film behind "Beauty And The Beast" to ever be nominated for a best picture Oscar and it's well deserved. The film moved me in ways I never thought I could be moved. The first 15 minutes of the film alone nearly gave me a cavity because of how sweet it was. This is an adventure film for the ages and it takes you on a journey that you'll never forget. I can't really think of anything bad to say about this film but if you think a film about a flying house sounds ridiculous, you'll be proved wrong.

All of the characters are very endearing, Carl the old man, Russell the young wilderness explorer, Kevin the large flightless tropical bird, Dug the talking golden retriever, and many more. These are definitely characters that you'll remember and that's another thing that Pixar is really good at, memorable characters. The score sweeps you away with the house and everything about this film is on a grand scale. It's almost an animated epic mostly due in large part to the final act. As far as animation goes, this is the best of the best. I saw this on blu ray and in my opinion, whether you use blu ray or digital download, you should watch this in high definition. You will be stunned. If you're worried about the prices of blu ray, you can always rent or buy from Amazon.com. You can buy blu rays there between $5-$25 bucks used and you can new stuff too. Plus they are always having really good sales on them every week.

This is also a film that immerses you in sound. If you have surround sound, this will be a pleasure for you to watch. Especially if you have lossless audio receiver. Disney takes very good care of it's films and it's presentations and everything they do, they do it with care and quality. I highly recommend this film to anyone, whether you like animation or not. If you're not part of the HD revolution don't worry because Disney's standard definition DVD's are top of the line.

Sex And The City 2 Teaser Trailer

Ok, so I've seen this trailer a hundred times already but I forgot to post it on here. I CAN'T FUCKING WAIT...two more months!!! I'm a huge fan of this series and the movie and I'm drooling...I'm not ashamed or afraid to admit that!!

An Education (2009)

So, it has been a while since I've written in here. Things have been so hectic! Started an acting class at the beginning of this month and it has been really great. So now, I'm having a moment to update here and boy do I have a lot to update! I've watched quite a few films and I will try to get them in here so I can start watching some more. Sometimes a film is released that you think is going to be interesting but won't go that far. That happens most of the time with indie films.

"An Education" is a film directed by Lone Scherfig and starring Carey Mulligan, Peter Saarsgard, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike, Alfred Molina, Cara Seymour, Olivia Williams, Sally Hawkins, and Emma Thompson. The film is based on a true story written by the woman who Carey Mulligan portrays. It takes place in 1961 in England and a young girl Jenny is charmed by an older man, David, and after that her whole world changes. He and his friends whisk her away to concerts, jazz clubs, and even Paris. Despite the wrong things that David and his friends do, Jenny overlooks it because she's enjoying herself so much. All the while her studies at school are suffering and her dreams of going to Oxford dwindle over time. It really compares getting an education through school and getting an education in the world and I think that's one of the many great things about this film making it a nominee for the Best Picture Oscar. David proposes marriage to Jenny and she has to make a tough decision between school and her life as a cultured young woman. Carey Mulligan, the film's lead, delivers a very layered performance that garnered her an Oscar nomination and she's definitely a talent to watch out for. The thing about her performance is that it sneaks up on you because it is so subtle. Peter Saarsgard is solid in this but I felt that his british accent might've been a little flat. I can totally understand it because that accent is hard to accomplish and anytime an American actor plays an English character people expect them to screw it up. He is good enough for this film though. I also thought that Rosamund Pike was really great in this. She was a supporting character and she really played her role faithfully as the wife of David's friend who chooses to be unaware of what David and her husband are doing. She plays ditsy but she's very well aware of her place as a woman and doesn't say anything. Even though she can, but she chooses to enjoy the fancy life instead no matter what the cost by making excuses for the men's behavior to Jenny. It's a very underrated performance.

As far as the look of the film, it really captures the heart and soul and dreariness of 1960's England. Before Jenny meets David, her life is very bland and the palette that was chosen for the film really captures that. You really feel the lifeless and dreary life of Jenny and her family. Then she meets David and the colors become more vivid and the palette becomes brighter. Especially when they go to Paris, it's absolutely beautiful. The production value of this film is impeccable and they really took the time to flesh everything out. You can really tell when filmmakers really take the time to flesh out the story in every way that they can because the finished film looks fantastic. That's always a very important thing to do no matter what your budget is. I guarantee you if you take the time to flesh out every little thing about the mood, the characters, the story, and the music, you'll have a stellar film. Your film is your baby and while you're pregnant with it, you have to nurture it so it can come out healthy.

I highly recommend this film to anyone who likes a good story and who values good production values. It hits stores March 3oth.

The Best Films of 2009

I'm so behind on my 2009 films and at this point, it's really late for me to post this. I'm still going to post the list though but it probably won't be till like April LOL....better late than fucking never! I still can't decide what my number One film is though...It won't be Avatar that's for fucking sure!

Cinema Italiano (My Favorite Scene)

Watch the magic!

A Serious Man (2009)

Every now and then, there are films that I somehow mistake for something else. I don't know why, but I avoided this film for the longest time because I thought it was a documentary. Not that I have a thing against documentaries, it's just that I didn't know anything about it and I would always see the poster of a man standing on a roof near an antenna and it just didn't grab me. However, I did notice that a lot of people were buying tickets for it while I was buying a ticket to go see "New York, I Love You" and I was curious as to why. Had I'd known that this was a Coen Brothers film, I would've seen it the minute it hit theaters.

"A Serious Man" is a film directed by the Coen Brothers and it stars mostly unknown talent, Michael Stuhlbarg, Sara Lennick, Aaron Wolff, Jessica McManus, and Richard Kind who is the most known out of the cast. It's basically a black comedy about a man, Larry Gopnik, who is dealing with sudden life changing events throughout the course of the film. This is one of those films that you really can't explain the plot, you just have to see it. That's pretty much how all of the Coen brothers films are anyway. They have a different and unique way of telling stories. I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this film and not because I'm a fan of the directors. This is a film that stands on it's on and really gives you an engaging story. Another thing is the dry humor. That's one thing I love about the Coens films. At times the humor is so dry that you don't know if you should laugh or not. The only problem that I had with it, and this pretty much goes for any Coen Brothers film, is that the ending was way too ambiguous. In fact, the ending was so abrupt that I found myself in a state of "huh?" At the same time, though, I really thought that it was brilliant. I even rewound the ending again just to make sure that the impact would be the same and it was. Only now, I was mesmerized and loved the Coens even more for pulling an ending like this. What the fuck? Seriously? The movie literally ended at the film's highest climax. Having said that, it's also a little creepy. I won't give it away but the ending almost takes away from the film experience as a whole. They basically do whatever the fuck they want and that's what I love about them. Also, call me stupid, but I really didn't get what the beginning scene had to do with the film but that just might be me needing to have a second viewing of the film. There's so much to be said about this film and how much I loved it.

The performances in this film were top notch. Michael Stuhlbarg is amazingly heartfelt as Larry Gopnik and gives a humanity to the character. He plays the character so beautifully and subtle that you feel sorry for this guy and all the bad things that are happening to him all at once. That's an example of bringing a realness to a character. He's definitely an actor to watch out for. Sara Lennick as his wife is great as well for this being her first feature film. I'm sure she has a long career ahead of her after this. Truth be told, there is not a performance in this film that isn't top notch. The Coens are always good about casting and the actors are always believable.

Another interesting thing that I liked about this film was the sound design. It's very rare when a film like this wows you with sound. It was strategic and placed perfectly. I watched this film on my computer so I can only imagine what it would sound like on blu ray. The look of the film was very dry as well. It sort of signified how living in the suburbs would feel like and I know first hand cause I used to live in the suburbs. The color palette was muted and it almost had a hopeless feel to it. This is a great example of how to set the mood for a story. People don't realize that everything matters when you're making a film.

If you're looking for an entertaining film with perfect dry humor and a quirky story, then this film is for you. I really enjoyed it and laughed out loud at many parts.