sereneredhd Reviews

Keith (I) (2008)

Worth watching

[8/10 · 5 December 2011]

I have A.D.D., and I have to have something on in the background while I'm working during the day. So, I "watch" a lot of movies at work. I can't listen to music much anymore as having been on the air in radio for several years, music is actually far more distracting.

Every now and then, I'll pull up some movie that I've neither heard of nor would typically want to watch. I read the plot summary of "Keith" and thought, "Oh, why the hell not?"

The "little assistant" in my mind mentally dashed through all the data stored before, and Jesse McCartney sounded remotely familiar. The other bit of data that came to mind was, "Isn't he some sort of teen singing kind of kid?" Of course, after the movie, I looked him up, and he's no longer a kid. At 24, he may still have a baby face, but his beautiful eyes and smile are all man. And no matter his skills (or lack thereof?) in singing and composing (I wouldn't know his chops in the musical arena as I've never heard one of his songs), he's got skills in acting. This movie proves it.

I'm not sure I can say I ever even heard promos for "Keith", and even then, I probably wouldn't have thought twice about watching it. Thank God something pushed my finger on the left-click mouse button today.

This movie, at times, is a bit strange in the respect that I almost clicked the "pause" button to search for another movie.

It was intriguing, though, and I kept waiting and waiting for the stereotypes to enter the scene, and just when I thought I had one character figured out, he/she surprised me. Just when I thought I had the "Keith's" (played fantastically by Jesse McCartney) secret figured out, I really knew nothing at all.

This is a sweet, if not bittersweet, film that asks the impossible of teenagers hoping for more, dreaming of a life beyond high school. Even though teenagers are invincible, this movie still asks teens, "Can you live and be in the moment?" Even teens, as much as they are "in the moment", still can find it hard to be.

Being Erica (2009–2011)

Unique and unexpectedly addictive

[10/10 · 30 May 2010]

I'm grateful for Hulu because without it, I would not have accidentally stumbled upon the gem called "Being Erica".

It's got a little bit of everything you could hope for in a television show. Michael Riley is BRILLIANT, absolutely BRILLIANT in his role. I remember him in two other roles, I think. One was in "Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story". If memory serves, he played her father. He also played a writer in "Her Perfect Spouse", a made-for-TV movie.

Erin Karpluk, the actress who plays Erica, makes me laugh, cry, wonder, ponder, and just mull things over.

The other actors/actresses on the show are incredibly talented as well.

The show, while maybe not different in its basic foundation, is definitely different in its presentation. Ultimately, it's about life, regrets, and how to learn from them, see for a second time around what we were blind to the first time, and hopefully, change what's within us, what we don't like about ourselves, strengthen what we love about ourselves, others, and life in general.

It's hard to watch at times, yet I can't take my eyes off of it. For the past four days, I've blazed through the only seasons they've produced: Seasons 1 and 2. I finished Season 2 about two hours ago, and I'm already going through withdrawal.

Great television should entertain in one form or another. After every episode of "Being Erica", I feel like I've just watched a feature length film that flew by only to be disappointed that I've reached the end.

The writers of this show demonstrate grace and finesse with the written word and throughout each episode, sprinkle great quotes from other famous people throughout history.

Like the end of a great book, a fantastic movie, or a inspiring play, "Being Erica" will surprise even the most critical of today's television.

Definitely, Maybe (2008)

For Sentimentalists

[7/10 · 29 July 2008]

I love Ryan Reynolds and Isla Fisher. They are both terrific actors. This romantic comedy, while you know its pretense if you've just seen the trailer, does have some typical sub-plots. But it's not all nice and tidy and contrived as some may think.

What I love about this story is that it's told through a man's third person point of view. We know he's telling the story, but we see it as it happens from a third-person perspective.

I've never seen Kevin Kline in a role like he plays in this movie, either, and I thought he was fantastic.

If you're sentimental, traditional even in your expectations of romantic comedies, you'll love this movie just for its core message. In very general terms, that core message is that love conquers and withstands all.

I read a review of this movie in "Entertainment Weekly" magazine and remember a comment about Ryan Reynolds, something about his performance not being all that great. I can't remember the exact wording. But actually, I like his performance in this movie. He's incredibly talented and has played comedic characters in the past. This time, I believe he had to perform the character as how the character would have been at that point in his life, which did not require a lot of "outward" emoting. As many men we all know, he plays the character from within, which means not much emotion on the outside, very restrained emotion.

Even though the men in my life are more sensitive than most men, we all know that the majority of men, even those who are more sensitive than others, tend to internalize their emotions and true feelings.

On the other hand...many times, there's nothing going on internally at all...other than the sound of crickets.

=)

Seriously, this is a role for "under" acting, if there is such a thing. I believe he hit the nail on the head of how many men in the world may actually be living their lives in similar situations.

This movie is ultimately...sweet and worth watching, if for nothing more, the relationship this man has with his daughter.

-s-

The Dark Knight (2008)

Dark Knight, Light of Day

[10/10 · 27 July 2008]

There was a LOT of hype about this movie, which I tried to quell. My husband and I watched our owned copy of "Batman Begins" again last night. The excitement set in, and even though we were going to wait one more weekend (in hopes that crowds would be a little smaller), we could not wait to get to the theater this morning. Yep...this morning. We prefer to watch movies with other courteous moviegoers, no children (unless it's a child's movie), and no one kicking the backs of our reclining seats at our favorite theater in Houston.

I was so excited, I could hardly contain myself. The previews felt like an eternity to sit through when normally, I don't mind them.

Let me say that this movie, unlike the first, has completely unexpected surprises, so much so, that I looked like the typical moviegoer from a teen movie where the teens are watching a scary movie and react in very melodramatic and campy ways. Although, my reactions were very sincere. Don't get me wrong--the first movie was fantastic and had many surprises. But this one...let's just say I LOVE it when a sequel outdoes the first because it is SO RARE!

A couple of times, I had to close my eyes. And several times during the movie, I was LITERALLY on the edge of my seat, leaning over the chair in front me with my hands over my mouth. (Luckily, no one was in the row in front of us--it was GREAT!) I realize that Heath Ledger is receiving so much posthumous praise, and it's not enough to be honest. As I'm sitting here writing this, almost 12 hours after seeing the movie, his performance is still disturbing. Yes, I wrote disturbing. My husband and I always discuss movies once we're back in our car leaving the theater. He and I talked about it for several minutes, and then, without warning, I told him I felt stupid because I started to cry. I've always loved Heath Ledger as a performer, and even more so, respected and empathized with his feelings about fame and attention. I haven't seen "Brokeback Mountain" yet, either, even though up until this point, everyone has said it's his finest performance.

I basically told my husband that I felt stupid; after all, I never knew Heath Ledger other than characters he played on the screen. But I felt a tremendously overwhelming heaviness of bittersweet. The world really did lose one of the best ever to appear on film. He was brilliant as The Joker.

And even though many probably want to see the film because of his passing, I and my husband wanted to see the film in spite of his passing. The other performances in the film are also brilliant. Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal...ALL OUTSTANDING.

The storyline is fantastic, action is great, and as I left the theater, I knew this movie would be one I would want to return to the theater to see again.

I haven't felt this way about a movie in a LONG time. I know how the first round of "Batman" movies were made, and they had their place. Quite honestly, there was nothing in those movies that drew me in, kept me loyal, "hooked me". "Batman Begins", and now even more so with "The Dark Knight" has my loyalty for years and years to come.

Chris Nolan shines, too, even from behind the camera.

ENJOY! -s-

Children of Men (2006)

Save Mankind from Extinction

[7/10 · 21 October 2007]

This is a movie with believable scenarios and consequences. There are, however, unexplained situations that would help fill in the background of the plot a little more.

The quest is great and necessary, and Clive Owen does a fantastic job in the lead role.

This movie will require further viewings to discover more nuances, but the journey is worth it.

Other roles that are noteworthy is Sir Michael Caine, as usual. His character's hippie lifestyle and attached ways to the life of years gone by is admirable. He is funny, honest, and gentle. I never did quite understand the relationship between Michael Caine's character and Clive Owen's. And I am unsure of the reason for the woman's vegetative state.

The most believable part of this film, unfortunately, is the chaos and living conditions of society. It is sad, especially since it is already happening in parts of the world today.

Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

Life is too short.

[10/10 · 8 October 2007]

I haven't seen this creative of a film where there were no animated characters. It is inventive (although, done before with different slants). Without giving anything away, let's just say that life is too short to NOT live the way you want, fulfill your dreams, and be free to be your true self. I know that sounds probably "hippie-corny", but it's what I got out of seeing this. This film has comedy, albeit dark at times, sadness and depression, and true joy and happiness. The realization that sometimes, you need a bit of a curve ball thrown your way to shake you up enough to learn that you are not really and truly living your life. Harold Krick (if I remember correctly), the main character, has routine down perfectly, too much so. People rely on him to be a certain way and display a certain demeanor. And just like touching one dangling piece of a baby's mobile, once a part of him has been "touched" by a very unusual event, the rest of his "routinely perfect" life shakes out to be nothing routine at all. At the same time (again without giving anything away), an author struggles with how and why she usually ends her books, a.k.a., her own routine.