39/365 I Hate Valentines Day

Starring: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Discovery: I wanted the “September Issue” got this because no copies of the other.

Summary: Genevieve, owner of a local floral shop, meets Greg.  They develop a relationship through her rules of “5 dates and out”.  Thing is she discovers she wants more than just 5 dates with Greg.

First Glance: Nia (Genevieve) not only plays the lead in the film, she is the director.  It shows.  I actually turned it off and played it with the commentary hoping it would help to know what was going through her mind.  It did.  That is the first time in the history of the world that I watch the movie only with the commentary.  It sucked that bad. ** Note- John Corbett is a charming, likable leading man.

Deeper Look: I can’t even give you a deeper look because that would require this movie having a bigger theme than a wacky mess.  Nia was utterly charming in ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’; however, she can not act and relies on her zany clueless female role.  After the 3rd time, it’s enough already.  I’m over it.  It’s sloppily shot, horrible cuts, and ridiculous framing.  I can always find something good about a movie, not so in this case.  I would plead to Nia and crew:  please no more movies like this.  HORRIBLE.

What I Took Away from this Movie: Not a darn thing.

Final Glimpse: This movie made $5,000 in 3 theaters.  That tells you something right there:  People actually have good taste.

38/365 Shutter Island

Starring: Leo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Sir Ben Kingsley

Genre: Suspense Drama

Discovery: Trip to movie theater, this was my pick.

Summary: Detectives Teddy Daniels (Leo DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) are sent to Shutter Island in order to investigate a missing persons case at a mental hospital run by Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley).  As they pursue their case, a deeper plot starts unravelling.  Is this hospital what it says or is it a front for a sinister plot to control the patients for selfish gains?

First Glance: I will say this bold and outright.  This movie is a total treat in cinematography-land.  The DP Robert Richardson should get massive props for making this film a big part of what it is.  A visual delight.  It’s moody, dark, devious, and mysterious.  (Behind the scenes girl says: His idea to backlight the cigarette smoke is a favorite trick of mine, creates such an interesting dimension to a mundane activity.  Thanks to the gaffer for making that happen & those electrics who do the grunt work!)

Deeper Look: To gush about how I love this movie would not even begin to tell just what I find so great.  A huge part of it is that:  I love mysteries.  I like drama.  I like costumes.  I like period pieces.  I like rain.  I like old buildings.  I like great acting. This movie played to all those ideas.  It brought me to the child-like wonder that I watch movies with when I get really involved.  It doesn’t happen every time, so when it does I take notice.  Does that mean I think this is a movie coup with no flaws? No. It has a few.  None that I care to highlight.  I would rather you watch for yourself and draw your own conclusions.  You may just love it like I do because it’s a darn good movie.

What I Took Away from this Movie: Scorcese is a master storyteller (and no, i don’t love all his movies).

Final Glimpse: This review took me over a week to write because I was really unsure that of how to share just why I loved this film so much.  It’s not perfect but I did not want it to end.

37/365 Wristcutters: A Love Story

Starring: Patrick Fugit, Shannyn Sossamon, Leslie Bibb, Shea Wigham

Genre: comedy/fantasy

Discovery: The title caught my attention.

Summary: Zia (Patrick Fugit) kills himself after being dumped by his girlfriend and is sent to an afterlife specifically for peeps who commit suicide.  There he meets Eugene (Shea Wigham) and Mikal (Shannyn Sossamon) as they navigate their path through the afterlife visiting bars.  Zia finds out that his ex-girlfriend is there and he seeks to find her; which alters the path of his existence.

First Glance: It’s hard to describe just what I felt about this film.  A few words that comes to mind are: Boggled.  Tickled.  Interested.  Reflective.  The director chose some really interesting shots to tell the story, the general tone is summed up in the opening sequence.  You know just what kind of journey you are going to be taking. This isn’t to say you can guess what happens because you can’t.  In fact, you won’t want to.  You will be content to let it just unfold before you as you try catching up with the subjective nature of this film.

Deeper Look: One of the themes I will mention (but not spoil) is the one of suicide. There is no glamorizing but it’s shown very candidly.  If you feel overwhelmed by that topic this may not be a good movie for ya.  It doesn’t dwell though.  It quickly moves on to the love story & growth of the central character. (Behind the scenes girl says: Shea Whigham does one hell of a russian accent.) This flick is charming, something about it beguiled me.  Maybe it is the quirky, twisted nature that it took towards romantic relationships.

What I Took Away from this Movie: What you are chasing isn’t always the best for you.

Final Glimpse: If you can handle the delicate nature of suicide in a plot, this is a really interesting film.

reframing fear.

this post is inspired by a thought posed by Kate in ‘The Courageous Year”:

so this weekend had some pretty bleak moments in it.

not saying this to garner any sort of ‘feel-bad-for-me’ feelings.

more to preface what is going through my mind.

basically, i had a total crash. split wide open

and pour out the rawest emotions I have felt in a very long time.

you see, i don’t often share in my day to day life how i feel

because i feel fear of “being known”, that when someone knows me it

will make them leave.

this is an old story.

one that i am not into hanging on to anymore.  it plays out in my head

often, i used to think it was true.  now i think it is BS.

before you think that i am all rah-rah, i’m so great and everyone loves me;

that is so not the case either.

what IS happening is that i am seeing what’s true.

i have these thoughts.  they are fueled by fear.  fear wants to keep me safe.  fear is not bad but it can keep me stuck.  being true is the only way i want to live. i am free (which is on my wrist in my tattoo in case i forget!).  i want “new stories”. dropping the “old ones” seem scary because they feel a part of me.  they aren’t.  i am more than my stories.

I AM ME.

I guess I am saying…i’m letting myself off the hook.  Daily.  Knowing that even if the feelings don’t match up.

Here is what I want you to know from my heart to yours: At the end of the day, YOU MATTER.  Not what you do, or how perfect you are.

YOUR SOUL.

YOU.

xoxo

Winter Olympics update.

Hi!  I was going to go out to the the local theater and catch a movie for review.

Instead, I turned on the Olympics and proceeded to watch it for several hours.

I couldn’t tear myself away from the skiing, hockey, ice dancing, speed skating & interview with Apolo.

Then I took a nap.

Pretty much lazed around.

Working towards stepping away from the computer on weekends ‘cept to post the challenge.  Need the unplug time.

Be back tomorrow with more another day of 365 challenge and the day after that, and after that, and…you get the idea.  This is about the long haul.   It’s been an experience so far, I think I love it.  Want to get even more smooth in my delivery.  :)

One last note:  It would be really cool to keep collecting suggestions of movies to watch. Leave a comment if you have an idea of a cool flick to review.

35/365 Amelia

Starring: Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor

Genre: Biopic

Discovery: A recommendation by Brandi got ‘broken’ in the mail so I ran to the video store to grab a movie.

Summary: If you know anything about flying you have heard her name.  Amelia Earhart is about as legendary as it gets in that field.  This movie portrays her as a woman fiercely lead by her desire for flying and freedom even though she married her great love, George Putnam.  (Some liberties were taken as we don’t know what her final hours were like and have to surmise)

First Glance: Period pieces jazz me up because for a few hours I am transported into another time.  This film beautifully captures the aura of the 20’s and 30’s. Amelia was not your traditional female, she bucked social convention much to the chagrin of her loyal husband who always supported her no matter what.  To me, this film fails in one area: making Amelia human.  It’s almost like Hilary focuses in on one side of her personality and stays there until the very end.  Then we are rewarded with a glimpse of softness.  Perhaps that is how she was.

Deeper Look: It must be truly hard to capture such an iconic figure.  To blend all the subtleties that make them unique.  The film did an admirable job.  My big question was where did she get this insatiable drive to fly?  Little is caught of her young life.  Of course, you can’t expect to sum up someone’s life in a few hours but that kept me from really “getting” who she was.  The movie is a tad dull.  Not quite a snorefest but just lacking the necessary “heart” I like in my true stories.

What I Took Away from this Movie: Amelia Earhart paved the way for strong women everywhere.  She was ahead of her time.

Final Glimpse: Pretty decent rental.

34/364 Dare

Starring: Zach Gilford, Emmy Rossum, Ashley Springer

Genre: Drama

Discovery: Waited for this to hit DVD.  Had a limited release.

Summary: Alexa, ever the “good girl”, breaks out of her shell by pursuing bad boy, Johnny.  As they get further involved her friend, Ben, starts playing his own games.  A weird triangle forms and ends in a life changing way.

First Glance: Not your standard teen drama. This didn’t walk the line I thought it would.  Going into this movie I made up my mind where it was going to take me.  I was wrong.  Well, partially.  I guessed part of it right & yet I was really far off on where it would end.  It broke convention in stereotypes.  Dig that.

Deeper Look: I think back to high school and how hard it was to find my place in that crazy world.  These characters struggle with the same thing but with MUCH more disastrous results.  It is a heightened movie reality yet a few delicately placed scenes that come from a more authentic place.  Exploring the “roles” we play.   Things are not always what we see on the outside.

What I Took Away from this Movie: Don’t play games.  Your actions matter.

Final Glimpse: Zach gives a truly inspired performance in the role of complicated Johnny, he’s not your typical brooding bad boy.

33/365 Humpday

Starring: Mark Duplass, Josh Leonard, Alycia Delmore

Genre: Indie Comedy

Discovery: Watched ‘The Puffy Chair’ by Mark and his brother, Jay.  It was cute & funny so I decided to view this one.

Summary: During a raucous party, Ben’s friend, Andrew, dares him to make an erotic art film together for HumpFest. Ben agrees much to the chagrin of his devoted wife.  Their friendship is put in an interesting position when they undertake this project.

First Glance: What can I say?  I have a soft spot for movies like this considering I worked on quite a few of them when I first started out in the biz.  The movie that’s all about a group of artsy folks making an okey-dokey movie and throwing all in to get it done. Long days, lugging equipment everywhere, and eating scraps.  All that aside, this movie isn’t half bad.  There are some truly genuine moments that I caught myself smirking at the hilarity of it all.  No spoilers, if you do watch this, the end makes it worth sticking through all that comes before.  The two guys have a fantastic buddy chemistry.

Deeper Look: What would it be like if two heterosexual guys (one being married) decided to make an artistic art porn?  I think Lynn Shelton, the writer/director, came up with a very realistic scenario.  It was extremely believable or at least what I imagine that the guys would do.  (Behind the scenes girl says: great costumes because the clothes actually belonged to the actors.  The camera work is kind of bad but can be forgiven because it is indie.  They wanted to be “in the moment”.  They shot the film in 10 days – that is crazy fast.)

What I Took Away from this Movie: Men have cool friendships.

Final Glimpse: Josh Leonard is a hidden gem.  He was my fave in this movie.

*Announcement* Ready to shop?

I started posting some miscellaneous items (ie clothes, etc) on Ebay.

You can check it out here.

This is all part of an ongoing desire to simplify & zenify my life.

Keep checking in.  Will be adding items daily for the next week.

If you are so inclined, please pass the word along.

Thank you!

32/365 Serious Moonlight

Starring: Meg Ryan, timothy, Hutton, Justin Long

Genre: Hard to say with a writer like Adrienne Shelly, maybe, dark romantic comedy

Discovery: I loved Waitress by Adrienne so this was an obvious choice to pick.  (She was murdered in her home in NY shortly before the Waitress came out & garnered such attention.  She wrote this and her husband/friends brought it to life in her memory.)

Summary: Very unhappily married man, Ian, tries to leave his wife for another woman (played by Kristen Bell). Instead of making it easy on him, his wife Louise, tapes him to a toilet and starts working on a way to get him to stay.  They find themselves ‘interrupted’ by lawn boy/burglar who takes control of the situation. Weirdness ensues.

First Glance: The film opens with a surprise.  Ironic twist.  Glossy but not totally ridiculous thanks to Adrienne’s wry script.  Although some of the scenario is highly suspect, you can’t help but strap yourself in and see where this crazy movie is going to take you.  Not where you think, at least, not an obvious conclusion.

Deeper Look: I try to imagine what I would feel if my lover taped me to a toilet to get me to stay with him.  Not sure I would have been super cool with it but watching this movie shows me the crazy things that some peeps can do in the name of love. You have to let down your guard & take the movie at face value. Its funny but not broad.  Crazy & desperate but at the same time you don’t hate anyone in the story.

What I Took Away from this Movie: Wish Adrienne was around to make more dry & comedic films like this.  Sad.

Final Glimpse: Good.

Next Page »