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Miss Meadows (2014)
Dark and Empowering - This Movie Deserves a Lot More Credit
This movie deserves so much more credit than its low IMDB rating. It's is a solid 7.5, simultaneously dark and empowering. Considering all the uninspired scripts being turned into movies these days, Miss Meadows dares to be different. Sure there are a couple of heavy-handed scenes, but pretty much about the film works well, particularly the solid acting (even the kids) and the fresh dialogue, Miss Meadows is a deliciously unique character, and Katie Holmes plays her perfectly. It's been a while since I've seen Holmes in anything, but Miss Meadows is a great reminder of how riveting Holmes can be on screen.
Jessica Jones (2015)
A Marvel-ous Binge Watch
Holy female bad-ass, Netflix's Jessica Jones is Marvel-ous. You'll stay up until the wee hours binge-watching episode after episode until you can't keep your eyes open--it's THAT kind of show.
Great casting, acting, music, writing, and cinematography aside, Jessica Jones (played by Ann Hathaway lookalike Krysten Ritter) is a character you'd want to watch even if she didn't possess superpowers. Beneath Jessica Jones' ability to throw 300-lb. guys through walls is an aching fragility. She is conflicted, boozy, peeved, sh*t-talking, embraces her own sexuality, thinks fast on her feet, and is devoted to what she does. Jessica's bordering-on-con- artist skills as a private detective are especially entertaining.
Fair warning: There are sexually explicit scenes–-no nudity but, whoah--and occasional gore (maybe every three episodes.)
More than any other series except Orange is the New Black, Jennifer Jones brims with a perfect cast of interesting, strong female characters, notably Carrie-Ann Moss of Matrix/Trinity fame and Australian actress, Rachael Taylor, probably best known by American audiences as Maggie Madsen in Transformers (2007--and for looking an awful lot like a grownup 24's Elisha Cuthbert.
In case you haven't watched Jennifer Jones yet, I'll hold back from revealing which actor was chosen to play the sociopathic, mind-controlling super villain, but I will say this: the casting choice was brilliant.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
I Think I Loved Birdman
Unique, infused with magic realism, and featuring fine actors, I think I loved Birdman. People who've ever been involved in theater will especially like this film, I think. I'm not surprised it won lots of Academy Awards.
Special recognition goes to long shots that pan high up city buildings and follow characters around the small downtown theater, on-stage, along hallways, in dressing rooms, across backstage. All the while, middle-aged actor Riggan (Keaton) tries to prove he is not a has-been. I'm not usually a fan of Michael Keaton's, but he did well as desperate, generally kind-hearted, washed-up Riggan. Also, as seems to be the big trend in movies and shows like Orange is the New Black (I'm not complaining), Keaton was not afraid to look old and ugly for his role.
Now a word about the film score: in theory, jazz drums as the only soundtrack was a good idea, but after nearly two solid hours of incessant, aggravating, excruciating, hissing and spitting jazz drums, I wanted to kill myself. Other than that, no complaints.
The Bling Ring (2013)
Appreciate it for What it Is
The Bling Ring -- I kind of loved it for what it was. But, first, here's what it wasn't. A fun-filled romp about clever bad guys you can't help but root for. Intrigue, romance, snappy dialogue, edge- of-your- seat narrow escapes from police. It was none of those things.
Here's what it was. An exploration of the heart-sinking shallowness of fame-seeking pop culture. For these four purely materialistic teenagers, there is ONLY TMZ, shopping, clubbing, drugs, outlandishly expensive cars, clothes, and jewels. No love, redemption, spirituality, or camaraderie. Does that make for compelling storytelling in the stereotypical sense? Probably not. Did we get backstory on these kids that helped us feel sorry for them, despite their bad behavior? Nope. Sure, it's obvious these kids don't have very good parental supervision –20 burglaries? loot lying around the house? and they're parents don't know? Maybe the parents know, maybe they don't – that's not the point of this film.
What is the point? The elusive answer to that question is probably why The Bling Ring has such a low IMDb rating. Take it or leave it, a cinematic mirror is being shined in our faces. By portraying pointlessness, might the movie feel pointless, too? Apparently.
Still, the movie is shot and edited very well, and there's a good soundtrack. The young cast all turns in very believable performances. Though Emma Watson's might have been just a touch over the top, Katie Chang was stunning as the unstoppable, sociopathic ringleader Rebecca Anh. Israel Broussard as Marc was also very good. Marc seemed to be the sort of central viewpoint character, though I have no idea why.
In her small role, Leslie Mann turns in another excellent performance as a wacky mother. As Nicki's mother, Mann holds up a vision board featuring "a good person her daughters should aspire to be like." When Mann asks her daughter Nicki what Nicki admires most about this beacon of humanity, Angelina Jolie, all her daughter can answer is "her husband," and "her tight body."
It's relevant that, interspersed with these hoodlums running around breaking into celebrity homes, are news clips about Lindsay Lohan's brushes with the law. Also note that scenes of the Bling Ring robbing Paris Hilton's home were actually filmed in Paris Hilton's mansion – with her permission, of course.
Electrick Children (2012)
An Unexpected Story Uniquely Told
Electrick Children is the best kind of indie film, about characters unlike any you've probably seen before, experiencing genuine human relationships under intriguingly unusual circumstances. The scenes and characters stay with you in an almost haunting way long after you've watched it. More than just about any other film I've seen, Electrick Children "got" the true essence of a mother-daughter relationship, and there is much more to the story than that. You get the sense that the director genuinely cares about these characters and offers the viewer an honest, almost voyeuristic view of their lives. This film is no slapstick comedy, but it does have humor and warmth.
I'll Follow You Down (2013)
Unintentional Comedy Alert
I love time travel-themed movies (even somewhat weak ones), and I'm a fan of Gillian Anderson, but "I'll Follow You Down" is still a bad movie.
The good: Gillian Anderson is in it. "I'll Follow You Down" is well shot, with very nice color and lighting. The sound is fine.
The decent: The film score is fine, except that at times it sets an awkward, almost Disney-like, tone (and this film has quite a serious tone).
The bad: The editing is clunky during scene breaks -- there's one fade to black that lasts so, so, so, so, so, so long that it completely takes you out of the story. The screenplay needed a couple of big rewrites and better direction. The story focused on all the wrong elements and none of the right ones. The most compelling aspect of the movie was given all of about 5 minutes. The writing was weak to the point of, at times, making good actors look bad. There's a decent plot idea but not much of a plot. The plot points that do exist are so forced that they're quite literally laughable, the most notable example being a coffee shop scene about 4/5 into the story. In an attempt to draw out the dramatic tension, a character is being so ridiculously unaware of the truth that's right in front of him/her that you wonder if the character might be mentally delayed.
The bottom line: Fail.
Special (2006)
A Quiet Treasure
This movie is a treasure. Michael Rapaport perfectly plays the part of the downtrodden protagonist Les, absolutely luring us in with his character's purity of heart. Without being gimmicky or vague, Haberman and Passmore's direction and writing achieve a complex balancing act in terms of what is really happening with Les. There is pathos, humor, and, ultimately, a tale that speaks to the underdog in each of us. Note the name of the lead character: Les, as in "less." Michael Rapaport has been around as an actor for a while now, but I can't say I've seen him in anything else. As Les in "Special" he has definitely made an outstanding first impression.
August: Osage County (2013)
Julia Roberts is the Brilliant Surprise
The most amazing thing about this movie is Julia Roberts' acting. Meryl Streep is so consistently great in dramatic roles that her brilliance is a foregone conclusion, practically a cliché. But Roberts proves that she, too, is a dramatic tour de force. Roberts has always had a certain charisma as an actress, even (and perhaps especially) as early as Mystic Pizza. While it's true that she won an Oscar for Erin Brockavich, that performance was nothing compared with her turn as eldest daughter Barbara in August: Osage County.
Maybe playing opposite the great Meryl Streep raised Roberts to her A game. Or maybe Roberts has matured, or perhaps this just was the perfect role for her. Whatever the reason, Julia Roberts has proved, without a doubt, that she is very, very fine actress. Most surprising wasvthe power she brought to her portrayal of Barbara, the oldest of three daughters of Meryl Streep's character, Violet. Violet is tough and verbally vicious, but Roberts does a brilliant job showing that Barbara can be just as tough, standing toe to toe not only with Streep's character but with Streep herself as an actress. Fans of fine acting will really appreciate seeing Streep and Roberts acting together. There are plenty of obvious, big moments between them, and all the more intriguing are the quieter ones. At one point, Streep's character breaks into tears and, at the end of the scene improvises quickly blowing her nose into a tissue (which, of course, in true Streep fashion is perfect for her character). In that moment Roberts deftly plays right along, giving just the right kind of subtle reaction.
So here's the good news: performing in August:Osage County with Streep raised Roberts' acting to an Oscar-worthy level. Here's the bad news: if you're a lead actress in the same dramatic film with Meryl Streep -- even if you have a considerably larger role -- about the only way you might win an Oscar is in the Best Supporting Actress category. Which is exactly what Julia Roberts is nominated for this year.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
See this movie. Bring a date. Bring your kids.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is triumphant, captivating, affirming, quirky, and original. With this film, Ben Stiller proves himself to be a director of vision and depth. Writer Steve Conrad also deserves accolades for his imaginative and uplifting screenplay. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) reassures us that there is beauty within us all; that we have a magnificent world to explore; that there are many kind and compassionate humans to cross paths with; and that it IS possible to reclaim our dreams. The "Space Oddity" ("Major Tom") scene with Kristen Wiig is sheer perfection, one of my favorite cinematic moments of all time.
This isn't to say that the movie is without flaws. Most of the characters are pretty one-dimensional, and the film takes a couple of "cute" risks that don't quite pan out. The whole eHarmony guy thing could have been done SO much better, and the great Shirley MacLaine is pretty much wasted here. That seems like a lot of flaws, but this movie's weaknesses are so far outshone by its strengths that the faults don't matter. As Walter might say, it is easy to suspend disbelief.
See this movie. Bring a date. Bring your kids.
If I Were You (2012)
Brilliant First Act
This is an intelligent and funny movie, well worth watching, even if for the first act alone. Harden and Watling are genuinely entertaining to watch. They have great chemistry, playing off each other beautifully. The film's only flaws are in the somewhat uneven plot, and a couple of very minor characters with sub-par acting -- the waitress in the opening scene must be surely be the producer's sister or something.
The first act is surprisingly great. I literally laughed out loud. The concept is also super fun and intriguing. Marcia Gay Harden's every move is perfect as Madeline, the prim and proper, confused working wife. Leonor Watling also gives a wonderful performance as Lucy. She gives Lucy exactly the right blend of naïvete, savviness, and genuine innocence, which allows us to care about Lucy even if she doesn't always do the right thing.
The second act continues at a pretty good pace. However, to keep from dragging, the middle of the movie craved a couple of extra plot complications.
In the third act, the tone of the movie shifts considerably. Now If I Were You is a drama, and a major new character is introduced. The story would have been even stronger if it could have retained more of the fun-loving spirit of the first act.
Overall, If I Were You gets a 6.5 . . . since that's not an option, 7.
Don Jon (2013)
Worth Watching
While not a masterpiece, Don Jon does offer funny moments and cleverly crafted scenes. It is also, for the most part, well-acted and directed. Most importantly, it is relevant. It takes us into the life of a young man whose perception of sex and relationships is tainted by all-too-accessible internet porn. While some of the philosophy of the film is a bit flawed, Don Jon offers interesting food for thought and is an entertaining watch. The way Jon "keeps score" with penances he receives during confession is kind of brilliant.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays his part perfectly. Tony Danza's performance is decent but vastly overrated. Scarlett Johanssen turns in another solid performance, but she does definitely overact in this one. Julianne Moore excels in bigger-than-life roles (maybe her brilliant performance in The End of the Affair has spoiled me forever), but her acting doesn't have the same sparkle when she plays everyday Jane roles like Esther in Don Jon. The truth is, the role of Esther is more of a convenient plot device, so it's not totally Moore's fault.
Brie Larson, who plays Jon's sister Monica, is probably my favorite up-and-coming actor. Though she has hardly lines in this film, the ones she does have count for a lot. Monica's face is buried in a cell phone throughout most of the movie, but she doesn't miss a thing. What she tells Jon is surprisingly insightful. Overall, I would give Don Jon a 7.5, but since I can't, I give it a 7.
Gravity (2013)
Fabulous Visuals, Substandard Plot
Gravity is a film with fabulous visuals strung together over an appallingly substandard plot of clichés and director-indulgent moments. Yet again Hollywood has wasted millions on great CGI without bothering with decent writing. Part of Gravity's $100 million budget was surely spent on paying marketers to front-load sites like IMDb with 10-star reviews. It's a trick that works. But if you want to know what moviegoers really think of a film, wait until it's been out a couple of weeks, THEN check the user reviews – you'll get a more accurate picture of how good or bad the film is. I give Gravity a 6.
Sandra Bullock seems like a great person, the kind of cool, smart chick you'd like to hang out with, whose pleasing combination of poise and humility makes her fun to watch in feel-good movies like Miss Congeniality. Unfortunately, Sandra Bullock is not a great actor. In Gravity she plays protagonist Ryan Stone, the focal point of the movie, practically the only character. Given Gravity's extremely weak story, the film REALLY needed an amazing actress to play the part of Ryan Stone. A stronger actor like Charlize Theron or Jessica Chastain might have been able to bring much more to this role to help fill out the weak plot with a nuanced and powerful performance. But even a great actress couldn't turn Gravity into a movie that was more than just great CGI.
Haunted (1995)
Worth a Gander
Haunted is a film well worth watching, in spite of its flawed ending. Aidan Quinn -- never particularly impressive as an actor -- is convincing in his role as a skeptical doctor who investigates mediums and supposed hauntings. All the other actors do an outstanding job; they are really a joy to watch. And Beckinsale is at her alluring best.
In its atmosphere (so important for a suspense movie) "Haunted" achieves a very good balance of whimsy and dread. The sets are excellent, the pacing good, the story very compelling. Where the movie fails is in its abrupt, unsatisfying conclusion. And it must also be said that, while the title "Haunted," does work on a couple of different levels, it is still a lame title for a ghost movie.
Black Death (2010)
Errant Puzzle Pieces
Game of Thrones fans will enjoy seeing a couple of key actors from the series playing different roles still in period costume: Sean Bean (a.k.a. Ned Stark) as Ulrich and Carice Van Houten (a.k.a. Melisandre, the Red Witch) as Langiva. I enjoyed Van Houten's slightly more nuanced role here. With a title like "Black Death," it's amazing that I, a grown woman who still shields my eyes to block out gory parts, would even consider watching this movie. However, the fine cast piqued my interest. Overall, Black Death was, unsurprisingly, a little too gory (for me). What holds this back from being a better movie is that it never commits to the story it wants to tell and how it wants to tell it. "Black Death" might have worked as a straight horror flick (though then the fine cast would have been totally wasted), and it definitely would have worked as a drama that explores Man's relationship with God within the powerful context of the Black Plague. While it does touch on elements of both, "Black Death" was never fully realized -- the errant puzzle pieces don't quite fit.
Blue Valentine (2010)
Poignancy Above Sadness
I resisted watching Blue Valentine at first because I was leery of being weighed down by an oppressive drama. But I am here to tell you that there is a poignancy to this film that rises above sadness, making it well worth watching. Blue Valentine is a marvelous, incredibly well-acted, and authentic film. Unlike many dying-relationship dramas, it never drags. From beginning to end, it is well-paced and captivating, due in large part to the incredible acting of Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. With them, you are never merely watching two people act; you are being allowed into the intimate lives of two people who happen to be inhabited by two of Hollywood's most gifted actors. For her performance as Cindy, Michelle Williams received an Oscar nomination (Natalie Portman ended up winning the award that year for another movie with a color in the title). While Williams' performance was indeed award-worthy, it was Ryan Gosling's portrayal of vulnerable, loving,complicated Dean that really deserved an Oscar nod. His acting in the final scene of Blue Valentine still has me shaking my head
in the best way and, yes, maybe wiping a tear.
The Jerk (1979)
Original and Genuinely Funny
I've been hearing about "The Jerk" for over two decades but for some reason avoided watching it, even though I've heard quotes from the movie at parties, from friends, from my husband, for years. "I was born a poor black child." "All I need is this lamp." You've probably heard them, too, but if -- like me -- you've put off watching this movie because you were afraid it would be stupid, well, you're right. "The Jerk" is stupid -- but in the best of ways. There is a lot of love in this movie, and most of the comedy is refreshingly original and genuinely funny. The biggest surprise was Bernadette Peters. I've never been a fan of hers but, as Steve Martin's trumpet-playing ingenue girlfriend, Peters was a revelation. The camera loved her. And that "all I need is this lamp" scene? Well, that's Steve Martin at the peak of his comic genius. So go grab a copy of "The Jerk" and finally see what all the fuss was about.
Somewhere (2010)
An Empty Film Depicting an Empty Life -- Maybe
Exploring a character's boring, meaningless existence by BEING a boring and seemingly meaningless movie – is that art, bad filmmaking, or -- if it's deliberate -- both? Somewhere in "Somewhere" there is, perhaps, some depth, but the road is as slow and dreadful as the existence that the main character lives. Somehow the movie compels you to watch through to the end, even if just to try and understand how such a boring movie can exist. Surely, you think, there must be a payoff. Especially excruciating are the directorially indulgent scenes that go on for far, far too long (topping this list is the daughter's ice skating routine.) It's not until AFTER the camera stops rolling, when the screen goes dark and credits roll, that you feel a sort of jubilance (is it just relief?) enhanced – interestingly – by the rich, joyful song that plays over the end credits. This song is in marked contrast to the sparse film score that has preceded it. The music, combined with the fact that this uneventful movie is finally over, engenders a celebratory feeling -- and is that the director's intention, to elicit viewer reaction and introspection AFTER the movie is over? If it is, then maybe there is art here (and by "art" I guess I mean depth). But was it worth the wait? Was that glimmer of possible insight AFTER the end worth the price of suffering through scene after boring scene, with barely anything to spark interest, a smile, or a tear? The only good things about this film are: 1- Elle Fanning's very genuine performance as the sorry protagonist's daughter. As the only light in his life, you can't help but feel empathy toward her. She is a good girl(unrealistically good.) 2- The scene with the Italian dancers is ludicrous in the best of ways. 3- The contrast between the pole dancers and the daughter's ice skating is thought-provoking.
Breathe In (2013)
A Breath of Fresh Air
No mere love story, "Breathe In" is a quietly powerful film about two people who are eloquently and achingly swept up in a deep "connection" that defies description. To label this honest and beautiful film a "family drama" does it an injustice, but if that's what it is, then "Breathe In" is the best family drama I have ever seen. Felicity Jones as Sophie, the visitor, is captivating -- insightful, kind, and vaguely troubled. Sophie also happens to be a piano prodigy, perhaps an allusion to being a sort of "prodigal daughter." The film's atmosphere is masterful,an outstanding collaboration of cinematography, production design, and music. Breathe In maintains tension without ever becoming shrill,oppressive, or melodramatic, a balance that has been difficult to strike in so many of the "family dramas" that have come before it.