A Perfect Ending

This was a movie I was asked to watch by one of my Twitter followers. I had no hesitancy since I like watching all types of film, but I've found that most film companies that produce gay/lesbian are not known very well. This is unfortunate because it means that most people side step the films out of fear they will fall into a bad indie film.

I watched the preview before actually watching the film and all though I wasn't very interested in it after that, I watched it anyways. I'm going to be brutally honest in saying that I did not enjoy this film at all. The only part I liked were the scenes with the attractive children of the main character. I don't know which part of the movie I struggled with more, but honestly I believe it had less to do with the characters and more to do with the concept.

I strongly dislike movies where there is cheating happening, even if one of the characters is not being sexually satisfied, that is not a reason to cheat. I struggled with the intimate scenes between Niven and Clark, I didn't feel the chemistry that should be there and felt sort of like I was watching porn. I know that it is more and more acceptable for those extremely intimate scenes to be shown in movies and even television but I like it better when something is left to the imagination. I also had a hard time because at times I felt like the relationship was less sexy and more mother comforting her broken daughter which led to me feeling uncomfortable.

There are so many, what feels like, subplots to this movie that it makes it difficult to navigate everything. I didn't understand why the daughter had to be messed up for there to be that final connection at the end of the movie. Honestly, there was just too much going on. I think the movie was shot well, just not my kind of movie.

I hate to say it, but if you've read my other reviews and you agree with me typically, skip it. If you think my reviews are terrible, go ahead and watch it.

The Lucky One

So, I have an ongoing battle with Netflix. Okay, realistically it may be my reluctancy to commitment. Allow me to explain, every time I get an actual DVD from Netflix I am fearful that I'm going to pick the wrong one. See, watching movies on instant doesn't have that, "Ugh, I can't believe I waited for this movie to come in the mail," attached to it.

All that to say, this movie was not one that I regretted waiting to get in the mail. I am very choosey and despite being told by someone - maybe my mom - that it wasn't a good movie I wanted to see it anyways. And I am not afraid to say, I liked it!

I'm fairly picky when it comes to romantic movies because so many cheesy ones exist. Not to say that this doesn't have its fair share of "cheese" and not that it is terribly believable, but it's sweet. I liked the story, I believe - even in this day and age - that the "right couples" are brought together by something bigger than us. This is that story.

It doesn't hurt that Efron is also very attractive and combine that with his extremely sweet and sensitive character who happens to do really well with Schilling's son in the movie and I'm a girly mess. Plus he is kind of a hero, so what girl can turn that down? Obviously not the main female character, based solely on the poster photo!

Anyways, it is not going to win any awards but if you are looking for a girly movie, this is a good one. So, my suggestion is rent it.

The Details

Disaster. I honestly wish I could just write that one word and leave this review at that. I am a big fan of Elizabeth Banks so when I saw she was in this film and it's on Instant Netflix, I figured why not. After it was over, I wondered why?

I am not sure how you come up with the idea for a movie having the basis be that a guy loses it because some raccoons tear up his yard. Now, I grew up with a dad who was crazy about his yard. I'm pretty sure if he didn't have me, he would have been yelling at the kids to stop playing on his yard. But compared to Maguire's character my dad looks like a saint!

Honestly, I'm not even sure how to review this movie. I'm going to give a lot of spoilers right now so if you plan to watch maybe skip the rest of the review. But, Maguire ends up sleeping with two women one being his best friend and the other being the crazy neighbor (cheating on his wife) and getting someone else to kill the next door neighbor after finding out she is pregnant with his baby. Now, the guy who does the killing is a guy Maguire plays basketball with and the killer owes Maguire because he donated a *kidney* to him.

I don't know if it is because I like a story that is a little more believable but with the way the movie went, I kind of was hoping after Banks finds out she was cheated on she killed him and gets away with it. But, I didn't write the movie so of course it ends differently, in a way which just made me dislike the movie even more. The whole movie I was thinking all of this because your lawn got screwed up, dude get a life!

Anyways, if I could go back I would not watch this movie, so as a result I do not suggest you watch it either. Skip it!

The Fighter

This is the story of someone who has been beaten down and is trying to make a come back. My mother, in particular, loves feel good movies, and as a result this is one of her favorites. The reason I watched this movie (again) was because I was home visiting my family and it was on TV. Now, when I say that my mom loves this movie, I mean she loves it, we watched it in its entirety.

I rarely watch anything live on TV anymore because I can't stand commercials, but I do have a certain love for this movie too and sat through it both times. Mark Wahlberg does a fabulous job portraying Mickey Ward. You fall in love with his character and start to feel for every struggle he experiences. As a viewer you will feel for Wahlberg in all aspect starting with his struggle to come back, the defeats he suffers, to dealing with his (crazy) family.

This movie is just touching and it it hard a lot of the time to get a movie that makes you feel emotions as much as this one does. I would most definitely say to see this in theater, even though that's obviously not possible at this point. But, to do it justice, I did see it in theaters in 2010 with my parents and it was a film that all three of us walked away from feeling like we just saw a great film.

Also, if you are a woman that has somebody who doesn't like to watch "girly films" but you're tired of watching the same old beat em' up, take em' down, I strongly suggest this movie!

The Bling Ring

Okay, trying to review this movie is so complicated. Let's start with Sofia Coppola, I'm torn by her movie directing skills. If you are unaware of her movies she has done films such as Lost in Translation  and The Virgin Suicides. Now, I chose to say those two specifically because they are on the exact opposite spectrum from each other when it comes to movies I enjoy. I could not stand Lost in Translation, where on the other hand I love Virgin Suicides. So, going into The Bling Ring, I was unsure what to expect.

My initial want to see this film was triggered not by the true story it's based on but instead by the fact that I find Emma Watson to be very talented. Going into the film I knew little to nothing about the background story, but in the opening scene of the movie I quickly realized this family seemed familiar. And they are, if you have seen Pretty Wild, a reality show about a mom and her three daughters that aired on the E! network you will quickly realize this is that family. If you haven't seen the show and you are a subscriber to Netflix, I encourage you to check it out. If you can't make it through the show, you may not be able to make it through the movie.

I am not sure what Coppola's goal was with this film, if her goal is to make you infuriated with the characters portraying the real life individuals, she has succeeded in my case. The actors did, from what I can grasp from doing research, a great job of portraying the real individuals (although they don't really look like them). An article that I found incredibly interesting after seeing the movie was the following:

http://www.papermag.com/2013/06/nancy_jo_sales_the_bling_ring.php

That article is by Abby Schreiber and she did a good amount of research on the story.

Now, the question I am getting most frequently is "was it good"? Which is where the complications come in. The story itself is so frustrating. It's teenagers who are obsessed with fame and fortune and as a result go on a robbing spree to get things from celebrities. As someone who is not from California but has lived here for the past (almost) 8 years, I have noticed that a lot of teenagers dress, talk and behave the way the teens do in this film. Now, that in itself was excruciating to watch because it frustrates me how young girls, in particular, respect themselves and think it's acceptable to behave stupid because it will somehow make them more popular. As a society, I think we are letting down our youth by allowing them to behave the way they do and this film just helps to justify my opinions.

Now the good, Coppola has a way with making movies that is so unique compared to other directors out there. She did a good job of sticking to true story (from what I've read) and not having to "up the ante" in order to sell her film. The actors did a good job and Emma Watson has down the annoying American teen girl accent. All in all, even through irritation, it was a good movie. If nothing else, I hope it makes a lot of parents pay more attention to what their children are doing.

Would I see this movie in theaters again? No. My suggestion is to wait until it comes out and rent it. The music in this film deserves a mention as well, because it was amazing.

Zero Dark Thirty

I love Zero Dark Thirty! I have now watched this movie at least four times, two of which were in the theater, and every time I'm amazed. I wouldn't expect anything less from director Katheryn Bigelow who shocked us with her talents in The Hurt Locker.

Initially I was drawn to this movie because I really love Jessica Chastain, from the moment I saw her in The Help, I knew she was going to be big. She is a wonderful actress and the fact that she is nice to look at is just an added bonus.

My favorite thing about her is that she demands the attention, especially in this movie. Any time she is in a scene your eyes are drawn to her and you just wonder what is she going to do next? There are several scenes in particular that just jump out at me during this movie. The first is when she is in her first interrogation and after exiting the beginning of the interrogation, the lead male tells her she may want to put her mask back on before they go back in, but instead she says something like, "You're not wearing one." It shows her strength (the character's) and that she is ready to take on anything. My second favorite scene and the one that always makes me laugh is when they are at the meeting discussing how to see into the house that is possibly Osama's, she is asked who she is and she responds,"I'm the mother f*cker who found this place." Or something along those lines... amazing! The delivery, the attitude, the phrasing is all just perfect!

Chastain puts her all into her characters and as a result gives an incredibly convincing performance. I strongly believe she will succeed in most any role she is put in. Obviously by now you can tell I would say this is a must see in the theater, however since it isn't in theaters anymore, it is a must rent!

Patrik, Age 1.5

This is definitely a special interest film for a couple reasons, first, it's about a gay couple, second, it has subtitles. I turned on the movie and almost turned it off because I was not in the mood to read my movie. However, I am really glad I stuck with it because this is a very sweet movie.

It is unfortunate but a lot of gay/lesbian films are low budget and tend to have not the greatest actors. This is the opposite of both of those. Well, actually I'm not sure what their budget was, but it turned out really great.

Without ruining anything you fall in love with half of the couple and the teenager. The story is about a couple who wants to start their own family, but because of the laws they are greatly restricted with options. They end up receiving Patrik, who they believe is going to be 1.5 but due to a typographical error in their letter they end up with a 15 year old. On top of that, this kid is homophobic.

However, the movie ends happily, not the way you'd imagine, but still happily. If you are okay with watching a movie outside your normal realm, give this one a shot, it's worth a watch, and currently on Netflix Instant.

Big Miracle

I am a sucker for movies about whales. As a kid I fell in love with Free Willy (all of them). So, when I saw this movie was coming out I wanted to see it in the theater but no one would go with me. I instead settled for renting it, shout out to Netflix again.

This is a great family movie! It is based on a true story and even has pictures at the end of the movie of the characters in real life. The story, in case you are unaware, is about a family of whales who get trapped in Alaska because the ice freezes over faster than normal. A journalist notices the whales and calls attention to their needing assistance.

The movie is the tale of getting the three wales out from the ice and to safety. It is fun movie, there is a sad part however, so if you are watching with children be prepared to deal with them being sad and/or having questions.

This is a great family movie to rent for a night in or if you are like me and enjoy movies about animals especially whales!

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Oscar season has just passed us by and anyone who pays attention to these festivities knows that this young lady was the talk of the town. Initially I was drawn in by how adorable the young girl is but she really packs the double punch with being cute and quite the actress.

This is a sad movie, there are no ands, ifs, or buts about it. The young girl known throughout the movie as Hushpuppy does not know her mom who left when she was just a baby. Her father is an alcoholic who is suffering from an illness and does not really care for his daughter.

The movie takes place in what is known as The Bathtub. The imagery in the movie brings to mind the wreckage that was left from Hurricane Katrina and you see these people just trying to survive in what is left of their homes.

There are two scenes in particular that stuck out to me, the first is a scene where the young girls of the town are in a strip club and a woman who is assumed to be her mother (I think) picks her up and dances with her. Hushpuppy describes how this is her favorite thing and that she has only been held twice in her whole life. It is in that moment that you are further invested into the film. The final scene, which I don't want to ruin for those that will see it, is also one of the best scenes.

I cannot say that I am sad I didn't see this in the theater, but it is definitely worth renting.

Won't Back Down

Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis, wow! I really enjoy movies that are based on true stories, I know I know we can all argue about just how true they are, but none the less I like them. This movie is definitely a feel-good movie.

The story is about a mom incredibly frustrated by the fact that her daughter is not getting the help in school that she needs. The little girl is clearly frustrated and it becomes known that it is because of finances and location that she attends the school. 

There are several heart-wrenching scenes throughout the film which further pushes the mom to seek help and resources. The last scene of the movie is definitely the best and is really what makes the movie. 

This is a wonderful movie and definitely is a reminder of the kind of love a mother can have for her child. In my opinion, it is definitely worth renting.

The Air I Breathe

Apparently a reoccurring theme in the movies I've been watching is when multiple characters stories all end up intersecting by the end of the film. The story here focuses on four emotions that all humans feel: love, pleasure, sadness, and joy. If the director would not have labeled the emotions throughout the movie, I would have missed the point. My favorite part of this movie was the end. Partly because it was over but also because of what happens with Sarah Michelle Gellar's character. Out of all of the stories the two stories that I liked best were those of Gellar and Bacon.

Something I do often with my friends and family is describe a movie by explaining whether I would pay full price in the theater, see it in a dollar theater, rent it, or skip it. For me, this film fell into the skip it category, but for some I could understand why they would rent it.

I believe my initial interest in this movie was the fact that Emile Hirsch is in it. However, while he did a good job his contribution to the movie was minimal and could almost border on unnecessary.