Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Date Night

April 29.

A day of shopping at Town Square seemed like a great idea when LeSportsac arrived from the East Coast, but when the temperature went to 50 and the wind picked up the day turned into a take cover operation. So, after polishing off a pitcher of Sake Sangria at Kabuki, we ducked into Rave for "Date Night" with Steve Carell and Tina Fey.

Although, I love both actors separately I wasn't sure about this movie. These kind of comedies always seem forced and watered down. "Date Night" was a lot better than I expected but still fell on the ridiculous side of reality.

But, as long as you don't take it too seriously, it is fun and there are plenty of scenes with Marky Mark without a shirt.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The Princess and The Frog

April 25.

I heard mixed reviews of "The Princess and The Frog" and wasn't expecting much. But, there's something about an animated Disney film – I feel like I'm obligated to see them all. So, Netflix sent the movie and I watched. Maybe it was because I didn't have much hope but I really liked the it.

The music was my favorite part of the film set in Jazz-age era New Orleans. But, the story and characters are all classic Disney. There is a bit of a "Shrek" feel when Tiana kisses the frog and instead of him turning into a prince she also turns into a frog. But, Tiana isn't a princess and it's a great way to show off the Louisiana swamps and focus on some black magic.

(500) Days of Summer

April 24.

"(500) Days of Summer" was one of my favorite movies of 2009. I bought the DVD as soon as I could and have seen it more times than I care to count. It's now one of those movies I can pop in when I just want something on. It always makes me happy, especially the lone musical number set to the upbeat Hall and Oates-classic, "You Make My Dreams."

I love Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and the music, and how the movies shows LA. All the scenes were filmed in downtown LA. I didn't even know people lived there, but the movie makes it look like a place I really should explore.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

A Room with a View

April 11.

I caught the Masterpiece Theatre version of E.M. Forster's "A Room with a View" on PBS. (I heart PBS) I had, of course, heard of the book, but hadn't read it or seen any of the film adaptations.

I could tell the story, about a British girl living in Edwardian England and visiting Florence, Italy, was something I should love, but the movie didn't quite work. I've seen many Masterpiece Theatre movies and always loved them. Masterpiece's "Pride and Prejudice" may be the best adaptation of that story. But, this one felt rushed and not complete.

I read that there is an Oscar-nominated version starring Helena Bonham Carter from the 80s, so, I added that to my Netflix queue. I hope that version does a better job of telling the whole story. Maybe I'll have to skip the movies and pick up the book.

The Runaways

April 10.

"The Runaways" was completely underwhelming. The first quarter of the movie, about the 70s all-girl rock band, was promising. But the story and bad acting (by Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie) weighed the too-long story down.

I wanted so much to care about how the girls turned out but couldn't. Stewart did look a lot like Jett, but that wasn't enough to keep me interested. Fanning is probably a better actress but I cared even less about Currie's story. And, the film focused on her too much.

The only good part of the movie was the ridiculous hair, makeup, and clothes worn by everyone, especially band-manager, Kim Fowley (played by Michael Shannon). He had a different crazy look in every scene.

Sunshine Cleaning

April 9.

"Sunshine Cleaning" was billed as a comedy and a drama and although there are some funny scenes this is not is comedy. I think it's mostly about accepting the life you've been dealt and dealing with the decisions you make. There's a lot of disappointment and coming to terms with life. But there's also a lot about being there for the people in your life.

I love the flawed characters in this story about two sisters who start a bio hazard cleaning company.

Amy Adams is cute and perky even as she cleans up blood and body fluids. Emily blunt is perfect as her angsty sister and Alan Arkin never disappoints. He steals a number of scenes as he makes plans with his grandson. (Very little miss sunshine with his inappropriate grandfatherly advice.)

Although there are dark themes, not to mention all the crime scenes, in the end "Sunshine Cleaning" is uplifting.

Monday, April 5, 2010

4 Luni, 3 Saptamâni si 2 Zile (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 days)

April 4.

Even when no one is speaking "4 Luni, 3 Saptamâni si 2 Zile" is intense. The story, set in communist Romania in the 80s, focuses on college students Otilia and Gabita. With Otilia's help, Gabita gets an illegal abortion in a hotel room.

The story takes a real look at what you do when you're desperate and how far you'd go for a friend. Laura Vasiliu, who plays Gabita, is great but Anamaria Marinca (Otilia) steals the movie with her gut-wrenching performance. Even as Otilia learns about each lie Gabita has told, mostly our of fear, she doesn't give up on her. She's goes to places most friends would never go and without judgment.

The camera work during 4, 3, 2 is strange. It doesn't always focus on what is going on, which sometimes makes it even harder to watch. Everything about this movie is gritty and it is hard to let it go after it's over.

Hot Tub Time Machine

April 4.

In an interview, John Cusack said while filming "Hot Tub Time Machine" anytime anyone suggested something really stupid they just went with it. I think it shows, but in a good way. This movie is completely dumb, but fun. As long as you don't take it too seriously, don't try to figure out how a hot tub mixed with Russian Red Bull could send you back in time, it's a solid comedy.

The cast, including Cusack, Clark Duke, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry, Crispin Glover, and Chevy Chase, were perfect. Cusack in the 80s on a ski mountain takes me right back to "Better Off Dead," a perfect 80s movie!

And, this is definitely a flask movie.

The V.I.P.s

April 3.

I love how old movies don't need to fit into one genre or another. I'm sure "The V.I.P.s" is listed somewhere as a drama or a comedy or a romance, but it's really all three.

This classic was suggested to me by the Bushman, who has yet to steer me wrong, current rom-coms excluded. I added it to my Netflix queue without really checking it out and was intrigued by the list of stars in the cast. I had never seen an Elizabeth Taylor movie, or Richard Burton. Maggie Smith I know from "Harry Potter" and Orson Welles is, well, Orson Welles.

The film takes place during one night while a group of V.I.P travelers are stuck waiting for their flight from London to New York. There are so many great stories in the movie and each is well done. There aren't many movies that can successfully pull off intertwining story lines–yes, I'm talking to you "Valentine's Day."

Watching this movie, I'm reminded how much I love old movies. I've got to start watching more again. Thanks Bushman!

Un Prophete (A Prophet)

April 3.

"Un Prophete" was nominated for an Oscar and compared to the greatest mafia movies ever made, so when it popped up at one theater in town I saw it the first chance I got.

It's interesting that it was presented as a mafia movie since the entire story takes place during Malik El Djebena's, played by Tahar Rahim, prison sentence. The French prison is divided by Arabs and Corsicans. But Malik, who is both, keeps to himself. That is until the Corsican mafia inmates running the prison need his help. He doesn't exactly rise in the Corsican mafia, but he learns a lot and branches out on his own.

Rahim is an amazing newcomer and he plays the character, who spends half the story observing and letting things happen to and around him, brilliantly. He's also beautiful if you can get passed he weird 70s-porn mustache.