(500) Days Of Summer (2009)

Every year Fox Searchlight Pictures distributes a film that becomes a sleeper hit. It Started with "Sideways" in 2004, then "Little Miss Sunshine" in 2006, "Juno" in 2007, and then the Academy Award winning "Slumdog Millionaire" in 2008. All of these films are great films but they have one BIG problem, they are over hyped. It always begins the same way, they are screened at Sundance in January and you hear about how the film is getting a lot of attention. They claim that it's the best film there and audiences respond to it the most. Then by the end of the year you're tired of it because it's been talked about SO much and hyped up so much by critics, the media, and the viewing audience. I've only seen each of these films one time. Even though I would like to see them again, I need to wait a while until I feel like I can watch them again without the stain of hype. Most of the time the film isn't all it was cracked up to be, being that it was a good film, but not all of that.

"(500) Days Of Summer" is a film directed by Marc Webb and stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. This is Fox Searchlight's 2009 media darling and has received lots of praise. The film is about the 500 days of being in a relationship with Summer Finn. Tom, played by Levitt, is a greeting card writer who falls in love with Summer at first sight and they begin a relationship. Tom is the hopeless romantic while Summer doesn't believe in the idea of soul mates or love. It's a very interesting concept and there's a lot of things about this film that I really adore and a little bit jealous of because I didn't write it. It has a non linear narrative so, throughout the film, you see a title card telling you which day it is in the relationship and it's a really great way to tell this story. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is an incredible actor and I hope to one day be as good as him. He's really amazing in this and carries this film with great ease. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe for this performance. He does a great job as the heartbroken Tom and you can literally see on his face everything that his character is feeling and thinking. He really doesn't even have to say a word but when he does, it makes the scene more powerful than it already is. Zooey Deschanel is wonderfully confused as Summer. I think a lot of people would say that she's a one note actress but I beg to differ after seeing this. She very subtle about it, but she does create different characters. It's all apart of her brilliance.

More than ever this movie is like a love letter to the cinema of yore and music. There's a lot of references to old romance films and even a charming dance sequence to Hall and Oates "You Make My Dreams Come True". It's all strategically placed and makes the story of these two characters incredibly relevant. This isn't like some movies where references are used as a selling point. These references seem to actually contribute to this quirky story of love gone wrong. This is definitely a film that has lots of neat little editing tricks that make this film different from a lot of films. I have to admit that this film might not have been as great as it was hyped up to be, but don't be fooled by that remark cinephiles. This is one of those movies that marinates in your brain long after you've watched it until you realize how much you really did love it. It did kind of start up slow for me and maybe it seemed that way because this is a different kind of story told in a different kind of way. I'm used to non-linear plots because Quentin Tarantino is a master of doing just that, but this film had a lot more to prove to me and to it's audience. This definitely will require a second viewing on my end.

I do highly recommend this film. It's original and different and such a refreshing film to watch amongst all the generics that Hollywood is putting out. We NEED more films like this.

Adam (2009)

Anytime there is a film that takes place in New York I have to watch it because I love the way the city of New York looks on film. Even though I live in New York and I've seen the city in real life, I still get wide eyed when I see it in a movie. Woody Allen is a master at this. He makes New York look so good and it has a whimsical look about it. He has even said that he films New York the way Hollywood sees it. He doesn't like to film it the way Spike Lee or Martin Scorcese would film it in it's real gritty nature. The Upper West side always looks great on film and I believe that's where this next film was mostly shot.

"Adam" is a film directed by Max Mayer and stars Hugh Dancy, Rose Byrne, Frankie Faison, Peter Gallagher, and Amy Irving. The film is about Adam, a man with Asperger's syndrome who develops a relationship with a new female neighbor after the death of his father. He's a lonely man and has trouble connecting with other people because of his condition. This film was interesting to watch because of Hugh Dancy who turns in an amazing performance as Adam. Hugh is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors. To play a role like this is very difficult because you're playing someone with a condition which I always find to be difficult. There's so many different syndromes out there that one would almost assume that you should act the same way for each of them. There were times when I really felt for Adam and his internal struggle. He wanted to be different but he couldn't and it was quite amazing to see him force himself to change throughout the film. Very riveting. Rose Byrne, of course, is very good in this as well. I loved her ever since I saw her in "Wicker Park". She knows how to achieve her characters will and intention. I fell even more in love with here after I saw her in the TV show "Damages", an amazing show with Glenn Close. I did enjoy this movie although at times I felt there were plot points that might've been there for no reason. There was the whole thing going on Peter Gallagher's character that I thought didn't have anything much to do with the movie, but I could be wrong. However, it did charm me quite a bit with it's story of two people coming together in their own strange way.

The cinematography in this was similar to Woody Allen's style which is probably why I loved it so much. New York never looked so beautiful. The last time it looked this good was in the "Sex And The City" movie. Filming in New York makes any film more grand than it is because of the buildings and the scope of the city. The Soundtrack to this film was great too. I love when a filmmaker actually takes the time to choose songs for a film. I think that's one of the most important parts of filmmaking because it can make or break a scene. Another soundtrack that will probably want to get. This film had a pretty average New York palette. It did seem a lot more natural than most films though. They may have used a little altered light, but I would say that there was a lot of natural light used in the outdoors scenes and maybe even some of the indoor scenes as well. Lighting has always been an issue for me, but it's something that I want to master. A film is no good if no one can't see it. A good example of that is the movie "The Relic". That movie was so dark, I don't know if the director meant it to be that way but you can't see what's going on a lot of the time.

I would give this film three and a half stars out of five. It's definitely a nice and charming little independent film to watch. Recommended.

Terminator Salvation (2009)

I'm going to tell you right now that I'm not very familiar with the whole lore of the Terminator saga. In fact, I've never seen the first one. I was very young when I saw T2 so the only thing I remember is Robert Patrick turning into liquid silver and being wowed by it. I came into the franchise with T3: The Rise Of The Machines which I actually enjoyed. I have to admit, even though I enjoyed T3, I wasn't particularly excited for this latest entry. However, the special effects did look amazing in the trailer.

"Terminator: Salvation" is a film directed by McG, who directed the Charlie's Angels films, and stars Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin, Moon Bloodgood, Bryce Dallas Howard, Common, Jane Alexander, and Helena Bonham Carter. This film supposedly takes place after Judgement day and the machines have taken over our world. John Connor is now a man and is the destined leader of the human resistance. He's on a mission to stop Skynet's plan to terminate mankind. Right up front, I have to tell you, that this film surprised the hell out of me on how entertaining it was. There was action out the ass and it was the perfect summer film. Of course this is the film that Christian Bale was recorded having a meltdown during one of his scenes, but I didn't even think about it while I was watching this. The action scenes are very intense and it sort of gets your adrenaline pumping. Now this is a summer film so I really didn't pay attention to the performances that much. I just strapped myself in and went for a ride. However, the performances didn't make me cringe. They were all pretty solid. One thing I kept asking myself though is who the hell is Sam Worthington's agent?! Seriously! This guy has been in two major blockbusters playing leading roles in one year, Terminator Salvation and Avatar, and he's in the upcoming remake of "Clash Of The Titans" coming out next month! That's three blockbusters in a row! Whoever his agent is, deserves a fucking raise! He's a very in demand actor right now, ranking in at number 7 on IMDB. Now, I also have to say that he's a better actor than he gets credit for. This is a guy who didn't even want to be an actor. He went to an audition with his girlfriend and he became the actor and she didn't! His performance in this was very good and I believed the intentions of his character and really cared about his journey. He's probably gonna get ragged on because he's in this types of films but I really think that he's a talent to watch out for. Don't let the summer blockbusters fool you my friends. This one may go places.

I watched this film on blu ray so the sound was impeccable if you're into that sort of thing. Every robotic sound, every explosion, every gun shot was heard in perfect clarity. I was in lossless sound heaven! This is definitely one of those movies that you just sit back and enjoy it for what it is. It's good to watch movies like that to balance things out. Just hearing the Terminator theme made my heart race. The special effects were seamless and dreamlike. There was some major money put into this film. There wasn't a moment where I thought anything was fake or looked fake.

If you're looking for an exciting ride then this film is for you. I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but you never know until you watch...

Moon (2009)

A lot of people don't know that I'm a huge sci-fi buff but I'm very picky about what sci-fi I'm into. I'm not a trekkie but love the movie "Star Trek" that came out last year. I want to get into "Battlestar Galactica" at some point since it was all most of my friends on Facebook could talk about during it's final season. There are many more sci-fi films and shows out there, but it's a very fine line for me on what I like. For instance, I love the X Files movies but not much into the TV show itself. I also would like to get into "Firefly" because I loved the film "Serenity" on which the show was based. Aside from shows, there are a lot of sci-fi films that I like because it can be a very ethereal experience. The idea of space scares me and I think that's what draws me to the movies, the unknown. Every once in a while, a sci-fi film comes along that makes a geek rejoice.

"Moon" is a film directed by Duncan Jones, the son of David Bowie, and stars Sam Rockwell as Sam Bell, an employee of Lunar industries sent to extract helium-3 from lunar soil for much needed clean energy back on earth. He is stationed on the moon for three years along with his robotic assistant GERTY, voiced by Kevin Spacey. Sam left behind his wife to go on the mission and is only allowed limited amount of recorded transmissions to and from Earth. Two weeks before his three year contract is up, Sam begins to see hallucinations of a teenage girl. Sam then has an accident during a routine rover excursion and from there it gets VERY interesting. This is the very example of sci-fi done well and I can't tell you more without ruining one of the best twists in recent movie history. Sam Rockwell gives an amazing performance as essentially, this is a one man show. Anyone who can carry a film by themselves is a great actor and Rockwell does just that. This is an Oscar caliber performance in every sense of the word and it's too bad that he wasn't recognized. His performance was vulnerable yet strong and he really grasped the fear and hopelessness of this character. It always amazes me when I see a performance like this. Where an actor completely loses themselves and becomes the character. He let himself feel these things. That's really what acting is about, is letting yourself go and letting yourself feel. For most people that's a very vulnerable place to be, and it is, which is why there are transparent actors. It takes guts to be vulnerable on film. It's not something that everyone will accept as an actor but certain roles call for it. This film got a lot of attention at film festivals and rightfully so because not only is this a great sci-fi film, it's also just a great film in general. It reminds you of classic films and how they didn't need much to tell a story or to compel you.

The set design of this film is something that really caught my attention. Everything was planned out and in great detail. You actually feel like you're on that ship with Sam. At times it's even claustrophobic. The sound design is also immaculate and is a perfect example of how sound recording should be done in film. Technically, this film did everything right. The cinematography is stellar and everything looks like the film had a much bigger budget than it's $5 million budget. Which is measly according to Hollywood's standards. However, there have films made for much less and look like $10-$20 million dollar films. The trick is learning how to get more bang for your buck and it's very possible my filmmaking friends. You just have to know the tricks of the trade and they are out there in many forms.

I highly recommend Moon, not just to sci-fi buffs, to everyone. It's a very interesting film and will keep in tuned in with it's plot. The trailer is what drew me in...

The Boys Are Back (2009)

It always amazes me how cinematography and music scores come together to create something so beautiful and so transcendent that you get lost in it. There have been films that weren't particularly great, but had that very thing to offer. That always saves a movie for me. If you have breathtaking visuals and music, then you've done something great in my book. That's sort of a good example of this next film.

"The Boys Are Back" is a film directed by Scott Hicks and stars Clive Owen as Joe, a single father struggling to make it work with his young son and his estranged older son from a previous marriage after his wife dies. Joe is dealing with his own grief as well as dealing with his young son's random expressions of grief. Also in the mix is his older son who is dealing with the fact that Joe left him when he was young. It's a very heartfelt film that is very emotional and Clive Owen does a great job with this material. I'd have to say that this performance is his best since "Closer", another film I adore. He's very believable as Joe and the struggles that he faces as a father taking care of two boys and their issues. He was so used to his wife taking care of their young son because he has a demanding job as a sports writer and now that she's gone, he literally doesn't know what to do, how to cope, and how to keep things in order. The house is perpetually a mess and he develops a no rule policy to better handle his sons. There were a few supporting characters in this film that I felt were promising but didn't really fulfill their intentions. It almost seemed like these characters didn't really need to be in the film because at times they were insignificant. Maybe that was the director's intention to show that despite these other people in his life, they don't matter as much as what he and his sons are dealing with. That was really the only problem I had with the film. The supporting characters just sort of fell off in the end and you don't know what happened with those story lines so it's left open. Then again, maybe that was the whole point. The supporting characters could've been signifying how society determines how we're supposed to act and how we're supposed to live our lives but at the end of the day, it's all about you and your family and what works for you. What I also liked about this film is that it made me smile. The carefree anything goes attitude of Joe and his boys was very attractive to me and the fact that they could have fun and enjoy life even in the face of grief. It is the very definition of the human condition and I was deeply touched by it.

The cinematography was absolutely beautiful. The opening scene at the beginning of the film is what hooked me in. Hal Lindes' score is magnificent and it takes you to that beach in the opening scene. The scene at the very end as well is it's counterpart. It's like the sequel to the opening scene and it's even more beautiful of the Australian countryside.

I recommend this film for the performances and the cinematography. It's put together very well and it's a solid watch for a night in.

NINE (2009) 2nd review

So now, I have officially seen Nine three times and I have to say that I love it even more than I originally did. I know now, more than ever, that this film is being largely misunderstood. No one gets it. They don't get the concept, they don't get the music, well except for "Cinema Italiano" the most pop friendly song in the film. I understand now why that song is in the film because if it wasn't, the movie probably would've made less money. Smart move, no doubt made by the Weinstein brothers. No one gets the idea or what's happening in the film or why it's called Nine or any of that. This film was made for a certain audience and that certain audience didn't show up to support it. Maybe I'm seeing something that other people aren't seeing but I just think this film is fantastic. There is so much conviction in these songs, so much power. I just don't understand how no one is feeling that. I do have the advantage because I have seen the film three times and I've had an opportunity to analyze it and study it. Am I missing something here? These performances, even though most parts are supporting, are so deep and real. I'm really starting to think that we're so jaded as a movie going audience that we miss what's really going on underneath what we see on the screen. Movie critics as well. Another big problem that this film has is that people are comparing it to Rob Marshall's other musical "Chicago" which, in my opinion, is a huge mistake. These are two totally different concepts and films. It is also being compared to the broadway musical of the same name and I can understand that, but everything doesn't have to be like the other. Just like the other two projects were different, the film is a concept all it's own while retaining the idea. That's actually the biggest problem that this film has. Another problem was that a lot of people felt that the film was miscast, that the music was bad, and the pacing of the film was problematic. That may be true, but all of this is really only determined by viewing this film once. I thought that the pacing of the film was bad and that a few parts were miscast, but after seeing it two more times, I get it. Some films need more than one viewing to realize what's really going on. Some of the things that I read on the IMDB message boards are horrible. How can people be so mean? They demote these performances in this film like they're nothing and all that hard work that these actors put into this film is wasted. I can never say this enough, no matter how bad a film is, it's always good to appreciate what is being done because it takes a lot to make a film and anyone who achieves that deserves a medal. Kate Hudson seems to be getting a lot of hate, presumably, because her character seems pointless to people and they don't like her song. I'm sorry, maybe I'm biased, but her character makes perfect sense to this film in particular and her song is one of the best songs in the film because it signifies the American de-sensibility to European culture. It's perfect, you have to listen to the lyrics and listen to what she says before her song and the way that Guido reacts to her definition of Italian cinema. It's genius.

"Nine" is a film directed by Rob Marshall and stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Fergie, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, and Sophia Loren. The film is based on two things, the film "8 1/2" by Federico Fellini and the broadway play that spun from that called Nine as well. The idea is really quite simple. A man is having trouble with motivation for his next project and he looks to the women in his life for inspiration. I will admit that the execution of the film might be a little problematic but for the most part I adored this film and what it had to offer me. Daniel Day-Lewis put his own spin on Guido and at first I wasn't so sure about it and then after two more viewings I came to respect it. Why I ever doubted Daniel is beyond me. This performance is well crafted and multi layered and this is the film version of Guido Contini, not the plays. Marion Cotillard's performance is one that is so strong yet vulnerable. She performs her songs with such believability that you really feel her pain and frustration. All of the other performances are very well suited to the characters that they are playing. They all put their magic touches on their characters and it shows. I'm so glad I revisited this film twice because I see it in a whole new different way now.

The music and the lighting of this film were both commendable. As I've said before, Rob Marshall is a master at that because he comes from a theatre background. Visually this film is a stunner and there's so much going on at times that you don't know where to look. Every detail is seen and has been carefully put together. There's not a moment where you don't feel that it's 1960's Italia. The costumes are fantastic and rightfully so since they are now Oscar nominated.

All is all, I have to say that if you saw this film once and hated it, watch it again and really pay attention to what you might be missing. This is really an original idea but inspired by something else. I've been a big supporter of this film since day one and I will continue to be because I feel like it's deserved for such a great production of talent, music, and film.

A Single Man (2009)

You've got to hand it to the Weinstein Company, you know, they are really bold with their choices and even if they aren't received well, the work still speaks for itself with it's undying quality. I have to admit when the Weinsteins formed their own company a while ago, their slate of films weren't the quality they are now and I didn't think they were going to last as I'm sure most of Hollywood thought the same thing. Then they produced "Grindhouse" a film that still hasn't been released on DVD as it was seen in theaters, unless you happen to live in Japan. It was one of those once in a lifetime theater experiences that I'll never forget and it's a shame that it's been reduced to two separate films. After that, they have basically overshadowed Miramax films, who they used to work for, and now Miramax is no more. Tom Ford is a fashion designer who has done a lot for himself. He has taught me a lot about fashion and a lot about the kind of suit a man should wear. When I go to the Oscars, I want him to dress me. He is the definition of a man and I totally have a crush on him as well. He's from Texas, like me, and he's great at everything he does. When I found out he was directing a film, I nearly died. Tom Ford behind the camera? That can only be magic! However, I also knew that it could be a complete disaster.

"A Single Man" is the title of Tom Ford's directorial debut and it stars Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Nicholas Hoult, Lee Pace, and Ginnifer Goodwin. The film is based on a novel by Christopher Isherwood. A Single Man is about an English professor living in Los Angeles whose partner suddenly dies in a car accident in Colorado while visiting his family. The rest of the film is about him making it through a single day in Los Angeles while mourning and dealing with school, a student who has a crush on him, and his neighbor Charlie, played wonderfully by Julianne Moore. Colin Firth has definitely rose in rank as an actor to me after seeing this. How did I miss his brilliance all this time. Tom Ford knew it and used it to his advantage here. This film proves that Colin Firth is a very underrated actor. There's a scene where he first finds out about his partner's death over the phone. Instead of doing the obvious reaction, Firth sits there and builds up to his reaction. You literally see the tears form in his eyes and they spill out slowly building to crying, which was very touching to see on screen. Colin was sexy in this...very sexy and I say that with admiration. Julianne Moore was only really in the film for one scene which lasted close to ten minutes but it was one of the best scenes in the entire film. Of course Julianne is one of my all time favorite actresses so I wasn't surprised but she really outdid herself here as a drunk divorced woman who still loves Colin's character, George. Matthew Goode is utterly charming as Jim, George's late partner seen in flashbacks of happier times. He's a very handsome man and was totally believable as George's young lover in the film. The chemistry between him and Firth is authentic. Lee Pace was only in the film for one scene and it was almost a cameo appearance. However, he was very good as always. Nicholas Hoult certainly grew up fast. I don't know what he's been eating but he shot up like rocket! He's used here as the typical wide eyed twink obsessed with the older man. Which in a way I was almost over it because we've seen it so many times. I guess I would've like it better if he was a boy of color but Nicholas was so damn charming in the role, he made me forget about it. Ginnifer Goodwin also does a great job with her limited screen time as a mother who lives next door to George.

Now, as far as the film's look, it was absolutely splendid! I loved the palette for this film. Tom Ford captured the look of the era to the letter and it made the film look amazing. He used a lot of muted tones so it looked like the film was stripped of color but not all of it. Every time Firth's character sniffed something or saw something of beauty, that object came to full glorious life in color which was one of the most beautiful tricks I've ever seen in film. Of course at times the film looked like it could've been an extended ad for clothing or perfume which is only natural because of the director's roots. Was this film pretentious? Maybe. There were spots that I thought were too pretentious for their own good, but Ford gets a get out of jail free card for this since it's his first film. He even used a runway model for one of the scenes which was so obvious. Everything about this film seemed tailored and that's not a bad thing. If Tom Ford can tailor a suit, then I suppose he can do the same for film.

The opening score for this film was beautiful. Just that opening sequence alone makes we want to get the soundtrack. Aside from that, I really didn't pay attention to the music because I was so immersed in the film itself. Also there was nothing gratuitous about the film. Ford has a way of photographing the male form and it shows here. It was very subdued, almost suggestive in a way and that was something that I found to be a rewarding part of this experience. It's fashion on film. It's an editorial come to life and it never looked so good.

If you love fashion and art films then you will love this. It's got all the makings of a promising new director and Colin Firth is up for an Oscar for his performance. The trailer for this film is what hooked me and hopefully it will do the same to you...

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

I have decided that I may start doing video reviews because I just don't really have the time to sit and write anymore with my jobs and auditions and whatnot. However, 2010 so far is an absolute marvel! I'm growing more into my own that I ever have and it took me letting go of some things to get to this place.

I am a HUGE Wes Anderson fan and the minute I heard he was doing a stop motion animated film, I was fucking stoked! If you've ever seen a Wes Anderson film, you'll know that he has played around with stop motion with little segments in his films and the fact that he was doing a full length feature was right down my alley. I swear I screamed like a fucking school girl when I read the news on IMDB like in 2008 I believe. The film has some great voice talents George Clooney (my man crush), Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Michael Gambon, Owen Wilson, and Willem Dafoe to name a few. Even Wes Anderson himself lends his voice to a supporting character. There's also a very small voice cameo from Adrien Brody as a field mouse that if you blink you might miss it. The film is about a fox who wants a better life for him and his family and they move to a tree that is right near the three meanest men in their area. Risking it all for his family, Mr. Fox steals from the three men and ends up putting his family and his whole community in danger as the men set out to destroy Mr. Fox for stealing their chickens and cider.

What I found very interesting and lovable about this film is that it had that tailor made Wes Anderson flair about it that I love about all of his films. It was great to see him bring that to a stop animated film. Stop animation always fascinates me because after seeing the making of "Coraline", another stop animated film I love, I realized how much it time it took to execute a single movement. It's so amazing how it's done. I can't get over it. The voices fit the characters so well that it was almost as if I were watching the actors themselves. In most animated or stop animated films, as a voice actor you have to be elevated and really animated with your voice to bring the character to life for the kids. This film didn't do that as much and still managed to get across well. The dialogue was almost like it was from a Woody Allen film and for a film catered to kids or families that might be a problem but not here. It fit the tone and the characters of the story very well.

The music that accompanied this film was very well placed in each scene. This is another thing that Wes Anderson does quite well. They even used the song "Love" by Nancy Adams from another famous fox tale "Robin Hood" Disney's version of the beloved tale featuring foxes. That was a big selling point for me when I heard the soundtrack. So perfect. He also used other classic songs as well like "Fooba Wooba John" and "Davy Crockett". The one song that I LOVED that was in the film was a jazz instrumental version of "Night & Day". That's the kind of song that reminds me of New York. Sitting with your friends, talking and drinking wine. It's just one of those songs that you can just have on in the background and chill to and in this film they had one of the characters playing the piano. That was done very well because he was pushing all the right keys on the piano making it authentic as they could instead of just having him "appear" to be playing the piano.

This film is a technical achievement in every sense of the word and it will be on my best of 2009 list, coming soon I promise, I enjoyed this film and so will many people. I highly recommend it and what's even better is that this one is for the whole family. The even say the word "cuss" every time they are supposed to be saying a curse word, it's great! Check out the trailer!