Up In The Air (2009)

I will say this with no doubt in my mind, this film will win best picture at the Academy Awards. If it doesn't, I'm a fool in love with this film. A FOOL! Damn, I just remembered that "Avatar" is in the running...hmmm...well...if there's any justice this film will win it. Don't get me wrong Avatar is an amazing film and I loved it, but this film stands on it's own as a classic.

"Up In The Air" is a film directed by Jason Reitman, the director of another great film "Juno" and it stars George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman, and Danny Mcbride. It's about a man who makes his living traveling around the United States firing employees for bosses who don't want to do it themselves. He also does motivational speeches on the side. He's quite happy with his life and living in and out of hotels and airports. He plans to reach 10 million frequent flyer miles as his goal. During his travels, he meets another frequent flyer and they begin a casual relationship. Meanwhile back at headquarters a young ambitious coworker has figured out a way to cut costs buy conducting layoffs from the office instead of flying to each location. Obviously this shakes up Ryan Bingham, George Clooney's character, and he attempts to thwart her plan but ends up having to train her before the new plan goes into effect. As they travel together, they discuss life and what it means to each of them and Natalie Keener, Anna Kendrick's character challenges Ryan's beliefs but he remains unchanged. This is a very important film and a very entertaining film. This film sneaks up on you with it's message and I always love a good surprise. It packs a punch without having to do very much at all. What's more important and what stuck out for me is the exposure of the corporate world and how layoffs affect people who have been working for companies for years and years and are told out of the blue that they are no longer needed. It was very heartbreaking to see the different reactions from people being laid off because it's a very real situation. The extra actors did a VERY good job playing those small roles. I was very impressed.

I might be biased on this next statement, but I have a hard on for Clooney. I love EVERY single thing he does, even his activism. He is the definition of a good man and I admire that about him. He always surprises me when he pulls in a good performance such as this one. Clooney is the definition of class and I look up to him in a sort of Gentleman's Quarterly way. He's the man I want to become. Having said that, his performance is definitely Oscar worthy. Here is a man whose life is traveling. He loves it. He loves being in hotels. The airport is his home. He loves living free without having to worry about who he's leaving behind at home. There are people like that and you either admire them or feel sorry for them. I knew a man who lived similar to Ryan Bingham so I know there's a thrill in traveling on a moments notice and staying in great hotels. Getting points from hotels and frequent flyer miles and admirals clubs and executive platinum and the whole bit. It's enough to give anyone a woody. So when all of that is threatened, Clooney's character almost doesn't know how to be without that life. Having lived it for so long, even alienating his family. I love George Clooney and I hope to work alongside him one day. I envy Anna Kendrick, as a young actress, she had the role of a lifetime and with good reason. She's a very talented young woman and it shows in every frame that she's in. The character of Natalie Keener is one that is so familiar to me because I'm close to her age. There's a lot of young people like her who have this idea that everything is supposed to go according to plan. She had her head on her shoulders and was very confused by Ryan's carefree lifestyle at his age. Even though Mo'nique will win the Oscar, being nominated is a milestone for Kendrick. Vera Farmiga is another favorite actress of mine. She always has conviction in everything she does. The scenes between her and George are excellent. Their chemistry is undeniable and it works on so many levels. I loved watching them together.

The cinematography for this film was very well matched with the tone and look of this film. The score, the feel, everything thing technical about this film was perfect. It was handled with care and obviously very close to the director's heart. Every frame is handled in a way that poetry is written. There is one scene that I loved. Close to the end, George Clooney asks Jason Batmen what happened to Anna Kendrick's character and Jason tells him that she quit, after he says that, they show a shot of her on the conveyor belt at the airport with her back to the camera. It was quiet, simple, poetic, and absolutely a classic shot. One of the many great things about this film.

I strongly advise you to see this film. It's very difficult to capture what is going on at the present moment in film but this film manages to do that with wit, humor, and the essence of the human condition. I will definitely see it again. See it! Even the fucking trailer is brilliant!

Sunshine Cleaning (2009)

I have a soft spot for nice little indie flicks and this one goes beyond that in my book. I was very tired when I was watching this film because I've been working and getting used to my new schedule. However, I was in the mood to watch a couple of movies because I still have a "Best Of 2009" list to make before February.

"Sunshine Cleaning" is a film directed by Christine Jeffs and starring Amy Adams and Emily Blunt, two of my favorite actresses, Alan Arkin, Steve Zahn, and Clifton Collins Jr. This film is about a former cheerleader who has gone nowhere with her life. She is having an affair with her former jock boyfriend who is now married and working as a maid. After running into old friends and wanting her son to go to a private school, she decides to get into the business of cleaning up crime scenes after being told it was lucrative by her married lover. She goes into it with her underachieving sister and their lives are changed after realizing that there's more to cleaning a crime scene than cleaning. I really enjoyed watching this film mainly because of the two lead actresses that carried the film. This film could've indulged in numerous cliches but didn't and that's what I admired about it.

Emily Blunt is amazing, in this, as the disillusioned Norah. With every film I'm usually drawn to a particular actor and with Emily I was hooked. There's this ease in her performance that just works and she pulls off any situation that is thrown at her character. NOT overdone but in a nice nuanced way. Amy Adams is always a revelation because she's very good with facial expressions. You can read her mind just by her expression on her face. When she actually talks along with that face, it's magic. I love watching her. Now, I have to talk about Alan Arkin because he is very underrated as an actor even though he won an Oscar. As their father in the film, he brought a certain quiet aggressiveness to the role. He was a hustler and a father and the way he played it was beautiful. BEAUTIFUL. Clifton Collins Jr. is another character actor who is great and I love him in everything. He plays a one armed man in this film who obviously has a past that we never find out about. You know what? The reason why you know there is a past is because of his performance. The way he plays this role is that of a man who has "lived". Although at some point I thought he might've been the love interest to Amy Adams because they were being a little flirty throughout the film. It also plays on the realities of life after high school and the pressure to be successful at a certain age and that one question that makes anyone who isn't doing anything cringe..."So what are you doing now?" It's the one question that makes anyone feel worthless and it's painful to see the lengths that Amy's character goes to impress her old high school peers.

I recommend this film if you want something fun and quirky yet touching to watch. It's a great little film and the performances are worth a rental.

Precious (2009)

This is actually my third time seeing this film and I have to admit that it packs a punch every time. Now I have to admit, I downloaded a screener of it online and put it on my PS3 to watch with my parents, who hadn't seen it. I don't normally do that but I figured, I payed my money twice to see it in the theater and I plan on buying the blu ray when it comes out on March 9th so it's no big deal. I'm not selling it or showing to anyone else.

Precious is a film that is based on a novel by an author named Sapphire and the film was directed by Lee Daniels who directed a little know indie film with Cuba Gooding Jr. and Helen Mirren called "Shadowboxer." This film stars newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, and Lenny Kravitz, my twin, as everyone says. After seeing this film three times, I have to say that this film is raw poetry in it's purest form. It doesn't try to be glossy or anything it's not for that matter. It's very real and honest and a great sophomoric effort for Lee Daniels. I didn't really like Shadowboxer because I thought it was to muddled, but I might have to give it a second watch now since I'm more aware of his style than I was before. Set in Harlem in 1987, Precious is about an illiterate sixteen year old teen girl who is pregnant with her second child by her own father and is physically, mentally, and sexually abused by her unemployed mother. It's a very powerful film and one that will make an impact on any viewer.

Now it's no surprise that people are talking about Mo'Nique's performance as Mary Jones in the film. It's one of those rare performances that comes every once in a while and shakes you to your core. Reminiscent of Charlize Theron's performance in "Monster" in the way that the performance is almost other worldly. Every actor dreams for a part like this but only a few can actually channel and perform a part like this. It takes every part of you as a human being to pull off a complex performance such as this one. Mary Jones is delusional. She blames her failure as a woman on Precious and You hate her throughout the film. However, there is a scene where she does a monologue and you almost feel sorry for her. She actually believes that what she's doing is right and, for that, you feel something totally different than hate. It's the test of true acting fellow cinephiles. THIS IS ACTING AT IT'S FINEST!! You can't get anymore real than this and I was so immersed in that monologue. I hope that one day I can portray a character with such raw tenacity and conviction. Having said that, the rest of the cast didn't slouch. Gabourey Sidibe as Precious was wonderful as well. This being the actress' first film, she did an amazing job. Mariah Carey shocked a lot of people with her tender and real performance as a social worker. Paula Patton was endearing as a teacher and Lenny Kravitz was great with his limited screen time as a male nurse.

Lee Daniels' film is really gritty and the palette makes you feel like there is no hope for any of the characters. The only bright colors that you see are in the dream sequences that Precious has. The film almost has a glow to it as well. Certain scenes there seems to be an array of light almost signifying hope.

If you want to be immersed in a film that will make you feel like your problems are nothing compared to someone else's, this is the film to watch. I guarantee after you watch it, you will feel a lot better about your situation.

Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009)

When this film was announced, I had some mixed feelings. Not because I don't like Michael Jackson, it was because I felt that the media was sensationalizing his death even more than it already was. It's like big business if someone dies. Unfortunately that's how this world works. It's driven by MONEY. You're nothing without it in this world and when you do have it, you don't really have to spend it because you get things for free. Michael Jackson was a force far greater than anyone could imagine. He was literally world renowned and not very many people can say that they are.

This documentary called "This Is It" is rehearsal footage for MJ's final tour that would've started last July. However Michael died before the tour started. It was only a matter of time before this rehearsal footage would be seen by the world. After all, we would be seeing a concert we would've seen. The documentary was directed by Kenny Ortega, the man behind the High School Musical trilogy. He actually worked with Michael before he did the high school musical films and he was going to direct Michael Jackson's tour as well. It was nice to see what Michael had in store for us. The music, the sets, the dancers, the imagery...but at times I found myself a little bored with certain scenes. Don't take this the wrong way, I loved the movie but there are scenes that are drawn out too long and certain places where a song begins to start and you get all excited and Michael tells them to stop because they didn't start on the right cue. I know it's a documentary but that was my only problem. I think I agree with Latoya Jackson when she said that Michael would've never allowed this footage to be shown. At least not all of it. He was very much a perfectionist as you'll see in this and he wouldn't have liked it. However, at the same time, I do understand that people who bought tickets to the show would feel somewhat compensated.

There was a very strong message throughout this film that I adored and Is one of the many reasons that I've always loved Michael. He kept implementing love and healing the world and the well being of the human race. He dedicated his life to the world and to the people in it and not very many people do that. I've always felt connected to Michael, not because I was compared to him for most of my life, but because we have the same kind heart. If I had the money he had, I would be doing the same thing. I would be a charity whore. Why have all that money and not help everyone you can? He was still singing his songs with the same great voice and it was like he never aged. His voice sounds exactly the same. He was dancing right along with the dancers and jumping around. He was very physical. It was great and sad at the same time to see him in action. We all loved him and then we all abandoned him. I've always believed in Michael and always supported him. I never believed the accusations. I was always on his side and it sucks that someone who was once so great was ridiculed so much.

Michael was planning an awesome show for us to see as you'll see here. There are some parts where you are just in awe because you can't believe the huge scale of the show. "Thriller" was going to be in 3D projected on screens and the "Earth Song" was going to sport a giant tractor. Two of many great things in the show. Michael knew his songs so deeply and liked to really feel the music. He liked to let it simmer, which is something he said quite often during the rehearsals. It's like he was feeling something in the music much deeper than we could ever feel. He was an angel on this earth and now he's gone.

Michael will always be the king of pop and if you want to see his last hurrah, you won't be disappointed.

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Julie & Julia (2009)

Every once in a while a film comes along that a total inspiration to me. A film that makes me re-evaluate and gives me a charge for life. That may seem over the top to some, but movies touch me in that way sometimes.

Today's film is "Julie & Julia" directed by Nora Ephron. It stars Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, and Chris Messina. This is actually my second time watching this film because I love it that much. Plus, I wanted to show it to my mom who I knew would appreciate it. The film is basically about two women in two different times. Julie Powell, an unhappy government worker and an avid foodie and Julia Child, a woman who decides that cooking is what she wants to do. It's a very well done film and in my opinion one of the best films of 2009. My best of 2009 list is coming soon.

Of course Meryl Streep is fantastic in this film. I'm just beside myself on her brilliance as an actress. She's a legend. There are so many little nuances that she gives to this character that I adore and I find myself really loving every little thing, every word, every action that she brings to this character. This is a performance my friends. Actors take note. It never pays to overact, most of the time. With film you've got to be more natural and more subtle but not too much. It has to be just right and I know I say this a lot and it gets repetitive, but maybe if I keep addressing it, you'll get it. Amy Adams is a revelation in this. She plays Julie Powell with such conviction that it's hard to see her as anyone else. The men in the film are no slouches either. Stanley Tucci brings Paul Child to life with charm and compassion and Chris Messina brings a modest and supportive performance.

The palette of this film is marvelous! The food looks so good and colorful and the set design is perfect. You can tell that they put a lot of effort into every little detail of this story. The film feels lived in and that's always a good thing when you can't tell the difference. That's why I always say, you should take your time with every aspect of a film. The story, the characters, the costumes, etc. This film makes you fall in love with butter, cooking, Julia Child, and life. Even though Julie never got to meet Julia, at least she did something for Julia after her death. She has exposed her to a whole new generation who may not of known who Julia Child was. Seeing this film for the second time was definitely a treat for me. I have a lot of foodie friends in New York and it's always good to cook yourself a good meal.

If you want to see good food and great performances then this film is for you. This might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I always love to challenge people to go outside of their comfort film zones. For the life of me I don't understand why men or anyone for that matter shy away from films like this, it's just a bloody movie! You're balls will still be there don't worry. You just might be pleasantly surprised.

Zack And Miri Make A Porno (2008)

What a busy three day weekend this has been...or should I say four day weekend. To top it all off I had to work today and now I'm just getting home to type this. I should be back to weekday posts now, the storm has passed so to speak. The latest film I have seen is "Zack And Miri Make A Porno". This is definitely not a film for everyone but it was for me!

This film is directed by Kevin Smith, who is one of my favorite directors, who also directed "Clerks", "Chasing Amy", and "Dogma" to name a few. The film stars Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson, Jason Mewes, Traci Lords, Jeff Anderson, Katie Morgan, Ricky Mabe, and a couple of cameos from Justin Long and Brandon Routh. This is the raunchiest film that Kevin Smith has ever done and I was even surprised throughout the film. It took a lot for him to get this film an R rating and it's easy to see why. However, Kevin is no stranger to tug of war with the MPAA.

Zack and Miri are two people who are in their late twenties and they are struggling to make ends meet. After going to a high school reunion, they realize that they haven't really done anything with their lives. Then to top it all off, their water and their heat are turned off and they are forced to come up with a fast solution. Their solution is to make a porno. I've wanted to see this movie for so long and I can finally say that it doesn't disappoint. It is very graphic and, again, is not for everyone but if you're looking for a great time amongst adults, this is your movie. As far as performances go, Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks hold the film together quite nicely as the two leads. Their chemistry is undeniable and totally believable. The dialogue has a very strong improvisational style to it, which leads me to believe that most of it was probably an extension of the written word. Seth Rogen and Justin Long are masters at this and it shows throughout the film. It was great just literally watching Justin Long pull lines out of his ass right and left as a gay porn director. Hilarious! Improvisation for me personally isn't something that I've mastered but is something I'm working on. It's a really important skill to have especially for comedy. You've got to be on your toes at all times and it can be tricky. One performance that did shock me was that of real life porn star Katie Morgan. She definitely held her own. She really didn't have to do much but she kept up with the other actors quite well.

The film was shot in very Kevin Smith fashion with muted tones and your typical small generic town. It wouldn't be a Kevin Smith movie if it wasn't. The soundtrack was great and one of my favorite songs was played at the end "I Love You" by the Climax Blues Band!! I remember when I first heard that song at the end of the film "Cherish" and I fell in love with it. This is the type of film that you really don't care about cinematography or technical aspects because you're just going in it to have fun. However, everything was done very well and in it's place if that makes any sense.

So if you're looking for a raunchy good time then this film is for you. If you're a prude then stay far away from this film because you will be offended. So I highly recommend it.