j-ward Reviews

Revolutionary Road (2008)

Intense psychological drama

[10/10 · 18 January 2009]

This movie is incredible. It is much a cross between Labute's "In the Company of Men" and Mamet's "Oleana". If you are a fan of either of these movies you will likely love this movie. However, if, like most others, you haven't seen either of them then ask yourself if your idea of a good time is watching two intelligent people in a state of existential dread over the meaninglessness and routine nature of life rip either other apart verbally in the fashion of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe". If not, avoid this film.

Like DiCaprio's early work with DeNiro in "This Boy's Life" this film is all about an intellectuals struggle to find his voice to carve out a life, to follow his dreams, or to give up and accept the forces that, Mendes' so vividly relates, tend to move us to obscurity and mediocrity. Namely waking up to a life in a job you hate, with 2.3 kids and living in suburbia filled with routine drudgery and your typical 50's June Cleaver types as neighbors. It is depressing. It is painful to watch. Yet it says so much about the daily grind that so many of us go through. We run the rat race, move up the ladder... but for what?? To one day find out that all our childhood dreams are only that... dreams that have faded away with the new day.

Without giving away details about this movie, let me just say it is like a couple on the brink of divorce going to see a world renown therapist. Once in the office, the man relates an intricate story to the therapist detailing all his wife's failings. The therapist nods and agrees and the man feels validated. Then the wife takes the floor detailing all the ways her husband has let her down. Again the therapist nods and agrees with all her points. At this the man jumps in and says... "You said I was right... Now you are saying my wife is right. We can't both be right." Again the therapist nods and agrees.

Similarly, this movie is all about the delicate nature of truth. Some of us devote our live's to it. Other's dummy ourselves down in order to live in peace with those close to us. We tell little white lies to protect those we love... but lies build and soon we are lying to ourselves and have lost our moral compass. Some of us are so devoted to our version of the truth that we seem crazy and are committed to a mental hospital... but truly there is a thin line between genius and insanity and this movie all takes place along that line.

Year of the Dog (I) (2007)

A movie for animal lovers and haters

[9/10 · 16 April 2007]

Most Americans have at one point in their lives experienced love for a dog or a cat. This movie captures that feeling and yet it shows what can happen when a person lets this love become all consuming and it does a great job. This is my personal favorite movie of 2007.

The characters that make up the movie are caricatures but yet they represent something real in all of us and and the themes in the movie accurately capture many issues that Americans face in contemporary society. What I like best is that "dog haters", if such people exist, will find much to enjoy in the movie as well. This is because the dark side of animal love is given equal time and thought as is given to the beauty of giving your heart and soul fully to the love of animals. Moreover, the main character is as easy to laugh at as to cry with.

This isn't some silly comedy like most of the other movies with dog in the title which are all in my opinion dogs. This is a black comedy with penetrating insights into issues that have a lot of proponents on opposite sides of a long spectrum. If you like to see a movie where you can check your brain in at the ticket booth then this one is probably not for you. If you like to be enlightened as well as entertained, check this out because in addition to giving the viewer a well thought out look at canine animals, this film is a brilliant portrayal of the psychology of the human animal as well.

What the #$*! Do We (K)now!? (2004)

Nothing to get excited about

[24 September 2004]

After reading all the reviews I was really hyped about seeing the movie. So many people had such strong reactions to it that I thought that I would be strongly affected by it one way or the other. I wasn't. Let me preface any further comments by adding that much of my life has been directly spent on attempting to learn about the nature of absolute reality... I have degrees in physics, philosophy and advanced degrees in mathematics and psychology and have read countless books on spirituality and metaphysics (as well as being a member of the school of metaphysics for over a year - if you really want to learning about the nature of Truth check out that group).

As many critics have already pointed out the revelations of the film are not new and the film makes several blunders especially in assumming what exists at the quantum (micro- unseen - theoretical) level of reality applies directly to the macro (system - seen) level of reality. The plot line is weak and yet despite it's flaws the movie holds itself together through it's adherence to the truth that thought is cause, we create our own reality and are slaves to our habitual emotions yet paradoxically we are free to be any one of an infinite set of possibilities. This movie is a step forward in the direction of responsibility and a step away from victim consciousness. If nothing else, movies like this one will hopefully inspire you (even if you think it's a bad movie then make a better one!) - the truth is everywhere - learn to quiet the monkey mind, hold to the truth that you know is real, walk through the madness, and come back and tell the world what IS.