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.

It's Complicated (2009)

I don't know what it is, but I've just been enjoying everything that Meryl Streep is doing lately. There's something about her. You can just tell that she's at a place in her life that is on a whole other level of happiness. She radiates joy and laughter. Not to mention she is an actress with unmatchable talent. She can transform into anything and you have to wonder how she does it. Anyone who shares the screen with her is lucky. It's an experience I hope to have myself one day.

"It's Complicated" is a film directed by Nancy Meyers and stars Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin, and John Krasinski. I have to admit that I enjoy Nancy Meyers' films. They are a guilty pleasure of mine. Granted they are considered to be chick flicks, a term I hate, but I think they are witty, well performed tales of interesting women. This film is about a woman who starts to have an affair with her ex-husband who is now married to another younger woman. Simply put. She then meets another man and falls for him and it creates a crazy love triangle. It's quite an interesting idea and I'm surprised that no one thought of it before because it's such an easy story. It's definitely complicated and the title fits the film to the letter. As far as performances go, I really don't have to tell you that Meryl Streep is a goddess of an actress. It almost seems that she gets better with every role. There's little nuances and ticks to this character that she fleshes out. Every little expression, every hand gesture, every line is delivered with the ultimate conviction even with a story so crazy. I get a thrill out of watching her act. It's so amazing to see how she develops a character and how they would act, think, and feel. I love her. Alec Baldwin is terrifically charming as her ex-husband who tries to win her back through crazy schemes that don't always go as planned. I think this is the zaniest I've seen Baldwin aside from "30 Rock". Steve Martin isn't really given much to do in this film but he does great with what he's given and it's just great to see him again, it's been awhile.

As far as the film itself, it's definitely entertaining and a fun watch. It's not Oscar material but hey, what is these days. There are some cliched moments and might be a little predictable but it's fun to watch these talented actors play it up. This film came out around the holiday season so it's one of those movies that most mainstream audiences will enjoy. I liked the film as a whole but I felt that there was not enough juice. I would've liked to have seen more of Steve Martin and more story of the love triangle. The last half of the film felt rushed because the setup may have been a little too long. It was like they were trying to hurry up and finish it. If these actors weren't in it, I don't know if I would've liked it as much as I do.

Some mainstream films have moments of beauty in them that are overlooked and I think that this film really showed how beautiful California is. Nancy Meyers always has a way of making things look polished in her films. New York looked fantastic as well. She always manages to make each city that she films in seem almost dreamlike. It's a shame because really only indie films will be appreciated for their artistic value, so to speak, but most mainstream films with moments of great filmmaking will be overlooked because of the film itself. It's always good to notice something good in every film, as I have said before, because if you pay close enough attention you might see cinema come alive again for a moment. It's like an orgasm, you have it and then it's gone.

This is a film that you watch with friends but it's cool to watch by yourself as well. I did and I laughed out loud on some parts. It's definitely entertaining for a nice night in. The DVD hits stores April 27th.