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.

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...

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 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.

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.

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.

(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.