Into the Woods

On a Scale of 1 to 10, with 10 Being the Best

3

Plot: This movie is a fusion of four classic fairy tales which include Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel and the tale that links them all together is about a baker and his wife that want a child. I found this to be a pleasant idea, until all those fairy tales met a sad end, then I found it abnormally long and frankly...boring. None of the music moves the plot forward and all the fairy tales coming together just lead to this really long prolonged end. I love Disney but this is unoriginal and the only reason it was probably made was to make a buck.

Characters/Actors of Note:

Meryl Streep playing the Witch: All of the acting was quite good in this, and Ms. Streep is no exception. She was able to go from her ugly persona to her beautiful persona well. I also was impressed by how well she played such a strange character. Her singing was not bad either. In fact, I kept thinking it was Bette Midler singing! Thumbs up.

Anna Kendrick playing Cinderella: I will always see Ms. Kendrick as the girl from Twilight, but By George, she always does a great job. Excellent singing, as many know from her other movie Pitch Perfect, and her acting was not too shabby. I found her story-line especially repetitive though; the only way I didn't find her annoying was her acting and singing.

Daniel Huttlestone playing Jack: I remember watching this movie and thinking "I know that kid from somewhere..." When my aunt leaned over and stated it was the kid from Les Miserables! I found Mr. Huttlestone's performance was significantly better than his Les Mis performance, namely because his accent wasn't crazy thick. Jack is a character that is a fool, but a lovable fool. Mr. Huttlestone's performance also was impressive with his singing. I found that he could blend well and sing softly, which is again different from Les Mis, as he wasn't blaring in your ear. I found that he is much improved. 

James Corden playing Baker: I am sorry, but I was not that ecstatic about this character. He was pushy but also a push-over. I found him inconsistent about his "wish" and the way he felt about his wife. I was not that happy that he was the narrator either, as his voice made me want to fall asleep, although at the end it makes sense. His singing wasn't that fantastic either. His best skill is that he can blend with others. Casting was great, with the exception of this Mr. Corden.

Music: I think the best way to describe the music can be summed up with a sentence I heard as I left the theater, "If they say 'wish' one more time, I'm going to lose it." Stephan Sondheim wrote this musical; you may know him for his works such as West Side Story and Sweeney Todd. I guess I either love him or hate him because I was pretty sick of the music. It was repetitive, it didn't move the story forward, and it prolonged the movie. I would say that the music needs cutting and rewriting.

Camera Work/Cinematography: Visually, this movie was wonderful. It used colors and angles well. I found also that the make-up and costume department did a spectacular job. I was very impressed with how well this movie looked. Two thumbs up in this aspect.

RECAP:

Overall, the acting, camera work, make-up, and costumes were spot-on. The writing of the script and the music are so off the mark though. When I watched this in theaters, people left early and became antsy in their seats. The movie could have ended in the middle and I would have given it an 8, but since it dragged on for another hour it gets a three. Bad writing only deserves thus. 

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Unbroken

On a Scale of 1 to 10, with 10 Being the Best

9.5

As a special note-My family went to see this on Christmas Day and it was sold out in two theatres for three showings. This movie is going to be a blockbuster hit. 

Plot: This movie is based off of a true story of Louie Zamperini. He ran in the Olympics and was going to compete in the next one in Japan, only that the world was thrown into World War II. While on a search party over the ocean, the plane went down. Louie and his friend Phil survived 56 days at sea and were saved...by the Japanese forces. The story reveals how Louie and other Ally members were treated in the Japanese POW camps, along with his story about how he went from a troubled kid, to Olympic champion. 

*Upon research I found that the movie did not derive from the book. It was been questioned if Louis Zamperini exaggerated his own facts in the book though.*

Characters/Actors of Note:

Jack O'Connel playing Louis Zamperini: I was surprised on the different aspects I got from Mr. O'Connel. He didn't come off as just one singular trait. He seemed to be pretty well-rounded. I finally got to watch someone that actually acted in a way that made sense. Most actors are either under or overwhelming in these high drama movies. I felt that Mr. O'Connel was just right. The fear, the excitement, and the sadness were great. For some reason though, I never cried during this movie. Perhaps it was for the reason that I kept thinking that this guy could have it much worse. I am not saying that this guy wasn't under extreme harshness, a lot of people died in his type of situation; I am saying that this could have been worse. I thought that this character was well-rounded and I appreciated the portrayal greatly. 

Takamasa "Miyavi" Ishihara playing Mutsushiro "The Bird" Watanabe: Again, I was surprised by this character. The reason being that most villains are portrayed as big, ugly, and overly cruel. The Bird though was about the size as the other men, even shorter. He also wasn't bad looking and he didn't go overboard with his evil attitude. I could really picture some like The Bird being in my reality. Mr. Ishihara's portrayal reminded me of someone that is more abusive than a cruel overlord and that is what made him believable. The way that this character's life intertwined with Louie's was strange and ironic. His unpredictable behavior made sense as well. I almost wanted more information on this character in the film.
Domhnall Gleeson playing Russell Allen "Phil" Phillips: I had originally not done a review on this character but I find that I keep talking about Phil. Mr. Gleeson's character is more religious than Louis. He prays more often and believes in an afterlife where he will be re-payed. Phil is a person that is closely attached to Louis, as they only have each other when they are rescued. I felt a lot of love for this character as he was such a sweet heart. He was a quiet, respectful, and faithful. He also gave some more optimism to the situation. Mr. Gleeson's care for this portrayal was lovely.

Music: I thought this music was well put together. It was strong and supporting of the film. I also loved that none of the dialogue was drowned out by the music. (Sorry for the foul language in the link.) Quite good.

Camera Work/Cinematography: This movie looked like it was in SUPER HIGH-DEFINITION. It so was impeccably sharp that it was almost distracting. There was also a lot of colors. There was yellow, black, gray, blue, green, and white. I do have to say that the make-up was just stunning in this film though. The burns, cuts, and coal that were applied were just on-spot. Overall, great make-up and the high-definition was okay but over-the-top.

RECAP:

This movie is wonderfully scripted, shot, and acted. I wish the music was more catchy and the super high-def was distracting. It's great to watch with your family and I don't doubt that this movie will be up for the Oscar. 

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Shadow on the Wall (1950)

On a Scale of 1 to 10, with 10 Being the Best

8

Plot: A father gets remarried and finds out that his new wife has been cheating on him. He has a gun in his hand and charges at her, only to be knocked-out cold. The wife's sister comes to confront her about the cheating, grabs the gun off the floor, and kills her. She let's her brother-in-law take the blame but finds out his little girl saw the entire thing but has blocked it from her memory. A child psychiatrist tries to find out the truth, meanwhile the murderer tries to rid of the young witness.

Characters/Actors of Note:

Gigi Perreau playing Susan Starrling: Ms. Perreau is the little girl in the film and does a mark-up job. I find that young actors have issues with defining their characters, often just playing themselves, but this person was great. Susie starts off bubbly, happy, and excited then turns into a somber and non-energetic little girl. Her catchphrase when she is happy is "I love you twice as much!" While her somber catchphrase is, "If you want me to..." The way she is able to define her happy and sad self are evident and great to watch. Either this girl takes direction well or is spot-on awesome. 

Ann Sothern as Dell Faring: Apparently Ms. Sothern is a predominately comedic actress, which I would have never guessed. Dell is a complex character as the murderer. She is caring towards the family but also does not want to go to jail...or worse the electric chair.  It was unnerving to see how close she could get with the daughter and to know what she wanted to do. I appreciated how Ms. Sothern decided not to be overly hysterical, which often happens in these 1950s movies, but showed us that fear is what motivated her to take the actions that she did. I felt that this character was well-thought out by Ms. Sothern and carefully assessed. Nicely done.

Nancy (Davis) Reagan playing Dr. Caroline Canford: Ms. Reagan (Yes, as in First Lady Reagan) plays the psychiatrist of the film. Her demeanor reminds me of the psychiatrist in Sybil, as she was calm, calculating, and determined. She was also very caring, which is shown with how well she took to being called "Aunt Caroline" by Susie. Doctor Caroline was wonderfully kind and I think the watchers of this film will be cheering her on. 

PS I appreciated how well they portrayed the way they treated mental illnesses during this time, I felt it was quite accurate. 

Zachary Scott playing David I. Starrling: I loved this character, which means a lot coming from a character that did not speak much in the movie. I was surprised to learn that Mr. Scott usually plays villains! He was such a loving father in this movie that I would not have thought of it. He portrays his caring-self well but his hopeless-self...not so much. I felt that he could have been more depressed, as he was on death row and losing his daughter. I also have issue with one another thing. He was very angry at his wife, had a gun in his hand, and was coming at her...I wonder if he would have killed her. I suppose we will never know. Watch the film yourself and get back to me on this!

Music: The sound of the film has the typical 50s celluloid sound. Lots of violins and flutes that sound similar to bells when they were happy, and the brass section was used for the more frightening parts. It was not overused though but I won't be downloading the music anytime soon.

Camera Work/Cinematography: The movie is in black and white. The use of lights and shadows have to be used. I found that in the movie, they highlighted their faces, while the rest of their bodies were dark. Of course the movie is called Shadow on the Wall so perhaps that was appropriate. I do feel more textures and levels of gray could have been used. In the film they spoke of wearing brown and yellow, but come on...we can't see it so who knows if they actually did wear those colors. Camera work was usually the same focus. Not many close-ups or zoom shots were used. The excellent filming they did was when Susie tries to remember the crime and how they associated dolls with the real people. The representation was wonderful but overall, cinematography was sub-par.

RECAP:

The music was used well but not all that catchy. The film could have been filmed more dramatically or at least have better use of textures, shades, and camera work. Representations were excellently shown though. The acting was superb and the movie was fun to watch. The plot and subplots all melting together makes a great script, and I recommend it to those that love mystery movies. 

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One Hour Photo

On a Scale of 1 to 10, with 10 Being the Best

5

Plot: A very lonely man works in a store developing photographs. There is a family (the Yorkins) that have come in for over nine years to that store and he wishes he was part of that family. The man's loneliness comes to a point where he imagines that he is part of the family. This movie is a thriller but this movie just made me feel so sad. Not only because the main character Sy has a sad life but because the late Robin Williams stars in the film. You may need a hug after this movie.

Characters/Actors of Note: 

Robin Williams playing Sy Parrish: I just felt so sad for the main character, Sy, and I spent most of the movie going, "Oh, poor thing. Okay, now stop acting crazy." It was interesting to see Mr. Williams play such a depressed and strict character. I have seen him in some of his other serious roles (Good Will Hunting and Dead Poet's Society) and found that this character is yet again different and special. I expected Mr. Williams to crack a joke at some point, as comedians often do in their somber roles because they get uncomfortable (such as Jim Carrey in The Truman Show) but not a single joke or humorous moment occurred. Sy Parrish was truly a sad, lonely, and creepy character. The strange part was that when a person watches Sy, they just keep pitying him. It gave a new outlook to the lay-person to understand those who suffer from mental illnesses. This acting was just wonderful and what could be expected from such a wonderful actor. 

*Please Note* That the other actors were minimal characters, hardly having any dialogue so I didn't critique them. 

Music: There were many quiet moments in this movie. The movie comes off meticulous, clean, and orderly and I think music would disrupt that idea. The times were it was used was for dramatic effect and it was used well. I think the sound came off tailored and always proper.

Camera Work/Cinematography: The main color of this film was white; white walls, white floors, and white clothes for Sy. The watcher feels that they are in the mind of Sy Parrish in this movie, except they know that the actions taken in the movie are not appropriate. The reason that the color white and the use of cleanliness were important to the film, is that when developing a photograph, a person has to be careful with chemicals and clean, in order to get the pictures to not be damaged. When we entered the Yorkin's home there is a feel of warmth which is such a contrast to Sy's life. As with the music, this was tailored so well. I loved the use of camera angles, close-ups, colors, and lights and also when there were nude scenes, it wasn't totally grotesque. Everything was in order and I do not believe anything was too overboard. The filming was done quite nicely.

RECAP:

It was interesting having the main character be the "villain" and gave a great insight into the mind's of those who are mentally ill. The music and cinematography were well-done as well. The reason it isn't higher on the scale is that the writing was pretty predictable. This movie also isn't that great of a thriller. There wasn't much thinking to do when you watched the movie. The watcher is waiting for the end to see why Sy is in a holding cell and that is basically all. Overall, it is great for understanding those who are alone but not great for thought-provoking ideas. 

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The Long, Long Trailer

On a Scale of 1 to 10, with 10 Being the Best

6

Plot: A couple get married and decide if they should buy a trailer or a house. The architect, who travels often, wants to buy a home, but his wife wants to buy a trailer so she can have a home for her husband to come to, compared to a hotel. She persuades him and off they go on their honeymoon which is full of crazy antics and embarrassing situations. I enjoyed this movie, it was funny and the antics were realistic. The issue I had with this movie is that I expected more from the two stars, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

Characters/Actors of Note:

Lucille Ball playing Tacy Collini: Most people know the infamous Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz from their iconic television show. This movie though is a little different. She's much more composed and her facial expressions are limited. Basically, the reasons that I loved the show were missing from this movie. This character, Tacy, just wasn't easily likable as she was a hoarder, straightforward, and a bit naggy. Ms. Ball is a good actress, don't get me wrong, but don't go watching this movie thinking it will be like another I Love Lucy episode. The trait I thought was great in this movie is that the antics were realistic, as in everyone might do this. It wasn't like in comedies today, where there might be a bear chase and someone loses their underwear. Instead, the events included getting stuck in the mud or cooking in a moving trailer. It was easy to see yourself getting into a similar mess. You empathized with this character as much as you laughed at her. 

Desi Arnaz playing Nicky Collini: The character Nicky was much like his character in I Love Lucy (Ricky) as he was loud, got frustrated, and a prideful character. The difference between Ricky and Nicky, was that Nicky was a push-over and a pretty nervous character. Whenever he drove the trailer, he heard a voice in his head telling him to "Don't forget the trailer brake!" When his wife drove, he became an overbearing backseat driver. In a way, his character made you like Tacy more, as you empathized with her struggles. This character was slightly lovable though. He wanted to please his wife (but almost to the point of making them broke) and he worried, because he wanted to make sure the trip would run smoothly. One could empathize with Nicky, as he was trying his best, but nothing was working to his advantage, much like our own lives.

Music: I was slightly confused on what they were trying to do with the music. Ms. Ball and Mr. Arnaz had a singing number together midway through the film, and Mr. Arnaz sang a few times after that. It felt like they wanted to make this into a musical but could only fit in a few songs. It wasn't so out-of-place that it was annoying but it did strike me as odd. The rest of the time was filled with orchestral music. The orchestral music wasn't too great but it keeps the attention of the audience.

Camera Work/Cinematography: I enjoyed the look of this movie. The most used effect were camera angles. They titled the camera when they were on the mountain or in the mud, the camera slowly followed Mr. Arnaz from one end of the trailer to the other, or a swinging effect was used when Ms. Ball was cooking in the moving trailer. Most of the movie did not take place in the stuffy trailer, which I greatly appreciated. They chose to have a convertible car take the trailer around, which created a more open look and a chance to have more shots of their natural surroundings.

RECAP:

This movie has some-what lovable characters that we can empathize with. The music was a little off, but not terrible, and the camera shots were great. If you are anything like me, than you might be sighing to yourself and mumbling advice to the couple. This movie isn't like the iconic TV show, but a chuckle or two is guaranteed. 

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Babette's Feast

On a Scale of 1 to 10 with 10 Being the Best

3

Plot: Two pious sisters, who live in a remote village in the 19th Century, have a French cook named Babette. These two sisters care for the poor villagers and do much better with Babette helping them. The sister's father was the town reverend and the villagers all loved him; in order to celebrate his would-have-been 100th birthday, they decide to have a party. Babette begs the sisters to let her cook, not a Danish meal, but a French one. This film has to do with religion, food, art, and I guess...awkwardness? This movie is alright but I just felt it was so time consuming. I failed to see the connections at times between characters and they spent forever trying to "explain" them. 

*PLEASE NOTE* That this movie is not in English but in Swedish, French, and Danish. You will want subtitles on when watching this. 

Characters/Actors of Note:

Stephane Audran playing Babette Hersant: In the film, Babette has to flee from France because of the French Revolution. Due to an obscure connection, she is able to live with the sisters, Filippa and Martine. This lady comes off as thrifty, smart, and straight forward. If she wants it done, it will get done whether others like it or not. I did like Ms. Audran cast as this character as she indeed looked the part. This woman had to be a little torn-up and tough and that is how she appeared. I also appreciated her coolness and professionalism. Good casting.

Jarl Kulle playing General Lorens Lowenhielm: This character confused me. Lorens is a soldier who is sent to his aunt's for misbehaving. His aunt's house is in the dumpy little village where Filippa and Martine live. It is love at first sight and he wiggles his way into the congregation. The issue is...well I didn't understand frankly. He was having supper with them and got up and left. When he talked to his friends about his "love affair" he states that the world is cruel and impossible. Many years later, the sister invite him to the 100th Anniversary, and he states after the meal that life is good and possible. I think I just missed on a culture cue during both the suppers to get where he was coming from.

Bodil Kjer playing Filippa and Birgitte Federspiel playing Martine: To be honest, I kept forgetting which sister was which in this movie. They hardly spoke and others hardly spoke to them. I was confused on how they kept breaking people's hearts when THEY NEVER LEFT THE HOUSE, except to go to church of course. I was also confused on what religion they were. The movie mentioned Catholics, but their father was married and had them, which would suggest otherwise. They had a crucifix but often sang instead of praying. Their religion also forbid eating anything delicious or drinking alcohol. To sum-up, I was more concerned with who they were because I didn't have a clue.

Music: The few times there were music were predominately from the sisters and their congregation singing. I was annoyed with how little background music there was. I felt music would have been helpful for the humorous parts of the film, at the very least, but none was to be heard. Quite disappointed with this aspect of the movie.

Camera Work/Cinematography: As with all 80s movies, this film was foggy. The entire movie though wasn't that pleasant to look at. There was no use of shadows, lights, or creative use of color. The director, Gabriel Axel, has been filming movies since the 1950s. This may sound harsh but, I wonder if he was given bad equipment or just wasn't that good of a director. Something more creative should have been done with this film.

RECAP:

I did like the concept of this movie. People coming together with food, forgiving each other, and actually enjoying themselves (although they wouldn't admit it). I found fault in how strung out this movie was. I failed to find real human connections or religious ones. I also wasn't a fan of the cinematography and lack of music, either. An older relative might enjoy this film, but I find it is a bit of a snore. 

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9

On a Scale of 1 to 10, With 10 Being the Best

9 (No pun intended)

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Plot: The movie is brilliantly directed. One of the first scene is our hero of the story, a burlap robot rag-doll who falls from a shelf and clinks with a circular device. This scene sets the mood for the entire film. To all who think this is a cute animated movie...please reconsider. The movie did not do well in theaters because it was thought to be more of a children's movie, this movie does have several corpses and war-like elements. The rag-doll, called 9, awakens to a destroyed world where the only "living" creatures left, are rag-doll robots like himself or scary monster robots. They are intelligent creatures that are capable of inventing and problem solving. The problem to solve is why there are monsters after them and how to survive. (NOTE-If you like dream psychology you will love this movie!)

Characters/Actors of Note:

Elijah Wood playing 9: The number nine, according to Jungian dream psychology represents closure. In this movie, there is a lot of open wounds and frayed ends that 9 resolves. When I was watching the movie, I kept thinking that I knew the voice and how great the casting was. It was soft but still strong enough to be a taken seriously as a leader. Figures it was Frodo from Lord of the Rings voicing this! I just loved this character. There was no, "Who am I?" question that we get a lot from movies where the character wakes up from a coma. He went out to learn about his world and then peacefully solved the issues. Mr. Wood portrayed his character in a refined and caring manner that was lovely to watch.

Jennifer Connelly playing 7: Jungian dream psychology states that the number seven represents healing and uniqueness. 7 was the only female character in the story, making her unique, and she also kicked some hard core butt! Out of the other robot rag-dolls, 7 knew how to fight and also how to stand her ground. I feared that they would try to make her overly feminine but they didn't. She was a fighter and also very caring. The first time we see 7, she is helping those who can't help themselves. Ms. Connelly was caring and proud and was enjoyable to see!

John C. Reilly playing 5: What does Jungian dreams say about the number five? It says that five is both daring and sensitive. Can't be done you say? You would be wrong. 5 is a shy and scared character that is easily persuaded. Later on though, 5 is the hero who does a very daring act. If you are familiar with Wreck it Ralph, you know that Mr. Reilly (who plays Ralph) can pull out our heartstrings and is easy to love.

Music: Deborah Lurie did a fine job with the music. A lot of creepy undertones without using the typical piano bits. Grant, I love a piano but it was nice to get away from that sound for once. This movie was just so unique so it deserved unique sounds. Claps for you!

Camera Work/Cinematography: Wow! What great animation. The hands that appear first in the movie even have thumb prints. You can also see all the threading in the rag-dolls and the gears in the machines. The animators must have studied these items up close to understand how they look. Since the creatures are generally small (six to seven inches tall or 18 to 20 centimeters tall) the detail had to be spot on because from our perspective, we would have to be quite close to see their stitch and gear work. Colors used in this movie included a lot of browns, which I thought I would hate but I loved it. I though it was very appropriate for this film as it gave a nature vs metal feel, almost a steam-punk look.

RECAP:

This movie is done incredibly well. The attention to detail in the animating, the script writing, the casting, and the acting was just spot on. This movie is a tad depressing and you should be warned that if you are against magic, then you may not want to watch this. The movie deals with magic and science together near the end. If you like post-apocalptic movies with a great cast and great art, then this is the movie for you!

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Warm Bodies

On a Scale of 1 to 10, 10 Being the Best

7

Plot: It is a post-apocalyptic world sometime in the future. The main character is a zombie nicknamed R. R is lonely and intelligent although unable to express himself due to you know...being partially dead. He lives in an airport with other zombies and "bonies" which are creatures that were zombies but have decomposed to the point of being rabid animals. The world seems pretty drab for R until he goes out hunting and sees the girl of his dreams, a girl who is alive, and decides to save her. The movie deals with issues like hatred, growth, hopelessness, and love. Pretty good movie overall! It is based off a book and I've heard it doesn't ring true with it so keep that in mind.

Characters/Actors of Note:

Nicholas Hoult playing R: Mr. Hoult played a very interesting character. This zombie hates being undead as he can't communicate intelligently. He's also quite bored with his life of walking slowly, grunting, and hunting. He has no memory of who he was before he died or how he truly died. The slow growth that we can both see and hear with R is enjoyable to watch. This character is well thought out. He is sad without being angsty and annoying, he is funny without being a humorous character, he is urgent without having to yell. For being a zombie, Mr. Hoult was one of the best humans I've seen! 

Teresa Palmer playing Julie: Ms. Palmer played her role well as a stern and loving character. Julie had to deal with a post-apocalyptic world, losing her mother and boyfriend, and having a control freak father. It is hard for those in this world to show emotion and that has all to do with the Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. These people need to focus on survival before love. Although Julie tries to show her affection for her father and boyfriend but gets pushed to the side. Her relationship with R has to build from the bottom of downright fear to acceptance of the new. Again this character was well thought out and I enjoyed how she was not over the top. She was the character that we could rely on to be the same but also keep the story moving.

Music: As I stated in this blog before, if you notice the music then it was probably a good movie. I liked the music in this film quite a bit! They had music from Guns N' Roses, Bob Dylan, and Scorpions. The music added to the humor, the drama, and the even to the embarrassing moments.. You might want to download all the songs after you watch the movie, they were good jams.

Camera Work/Cinematography: The look of this movie was appropriate. The most used color was grey, which would make sense for a world run by zombies and everyone living on the edge of a knife. At the end of the movie it was brighter. I loved the flashbacks and the running scenes. I could do without some of the computer made things like the bonies (I did like the heart effects though). ADDED NOTE: The make-up was excellent as well. The zombies looked dead enough without being gory. The bonies though were almost all computer made which disappointed me. Mostly because I know that in a few years, they will look pretty cheesy. I feel that the make-up department could have made the bonies as well.

RECAP: 

The movie had a good tone throughout. It was funny, scary, dramatic, and romantic. The cinematography worked well as did the music. The acting was just what this film needed. The reason it isn't a 10 is because it is kind of predictable. There are some parts that border line on being cheesy, including the bonies and the dialogue. A nice movie to watch for Halloween without being scared out of your wits. 

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Million Dollar Arm

On a Scale of 1 to 10, With 10 Being the Best

8

Plot: A sport's agent named J.B. Bernstein finds he, and his small company, is running out of money and can't find a new athlete to represent. One day, J.B. is flipping through channels and on the TV there is a game of cricket going on. He thinks of having a contest to change these cricket players into baseball players and again make it on top. On another plot line, two poor boys from India see posters and flyers for this contest titled, "Million Dollar Arm" and sign up to get their families out of poverty. This is based on a true story. This story is wonderful and full of heart. What else can you expect from Disney?

Characters/Actors of Note:

Jon Hamm playing J.B.: J.B. is a person who is selfish and uncaring towards others. He doesn't understand that this contest is helping two boys out of poverty, or that they have culture shock, or that he can care for them. It takes him a long time to really learn that lesson. Jon Hamm does an excellent job of being selfish without being carried away. He also balances his own interest with others and you understand the slow growth that he undergoes. 

Madhur Mittal playing Dinesh: Dinesh was a hardworking boy who wanted to make life better for his father. When he wins the contest he just wants to donate the money to his family and buy them a new vehicle and such. He wants to practice hard and not disappoint anyone. I loved the depth of this character. It was easy to empathize with Mr. Mittal's portrayal. Nice job. 

Suraj Sharma playing Rinku: Rinku was more of the fun character in this movie. He was very relaxed and could go with the flow. Even when he thought he might be sent home, he always tried to see the positive side. Mr. Sharma also had a funny quirk (which was true) and it was so fun to see him on screen. It was a nice change from the overworking and over-analyzing Dinesh.

Lake Bell playing Brenda: This character was much needed and much adored. Brenda was sassy, in-charge, and loving. I would love to meet this lady and be her friend! She cared for the two boys like they were her own kids and got J.B. to realize how dumb and selfish he was. I loved Miss Bell's acting in this. A+

Music: The music in this film would bounce between American rap and Bollywood which was very in your face and loud. It gave the impression of being overwhelmed. There were multiple times that the characters were being overwhelmed, so perhaps the music was there so we could empathize better. I personally didn't like how loud it was but it was perfect for bringing about empathy. I wouldn't download the music to my own Ipod though.

Camera Work/Cinematography: I almost feel the cinematography was similar to 42. It had moments of yellow and a feeling of "dirty." Grant, they were in the impoverished part of India for half of the movie. I feel more crisp colors could have been used. Otherwise I thought it was fine.

RECAP:

The film had a yellow look to it, for most of the movie but it was so fun to watch. The acting was just A+. The plot was original, fun, and full of love. I liked how there was growth and movement in the film. I highly recommend it and hope that you guys will go see it. 

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A Night at the Roxbury

On a Scale of 1 to 10, 10 Being the Best

4

Plot: Two brothers try to get into a club (The Roxbury) or start a club of their own. They are middle-aged men still living with their parents. Their father wants them to take over the fake plant business and also for Steve (Will Ferrell) to marry the girl at the neighboring business. This movie deals with a falling out, coming together, and overall success. This movie is based off of a popular Saturday Night Live sketch but I felt it wasn't thought out well. Seemed like a cliche comedy to me and did not find it that amusing.

Characters/Actors of Note:

Will Ferrell playing Steve Butabi: Unlike most of Mr. Ferrell's characters, this one is completely clueless. Steve Butabi is often confused and forgets where he is which would be very comical but I felt I missed out on the chance to hear some ridiculous Ferrell lines. Steve is also passive, shy, and easily influenced. He never outgrew this, so I never felt this character really grew which most characters in comedies do. If you want to watch a funny Ferrell movie I suggest, literally any other of his movies. 

Chris Kattan playing Doug Butabi: If you are familiar with that adorable fun loving character in Saturday Night Live then prepared to not recognize this guy. Kattan usually plays a more dim-witted character that is easy to love and in this movie, Kattan plays a sarcastic ignorant man who is easily jealous of his brother's relationships with his dad and girlfriend. I think that Will and Chris should have switched roles to better suit their acting strengths. They both did well, but it could have been better.

Music: If you watched the clip above then you will already guess that they use the song, "Baby, Don't Hurt Me" in the movie. They do and they use it often. Looking back, it was a good way to tie the movie together but during the film it was just annoying. They try to fit it wherever it can go. You can also tell that this movie was made in the 90's from the dance club music, which I enjoyed but it also made me think that the movie is dated.

Camera Work/Cinematography: I liked the filming in this movie. One of the two directors, Amy Heckerling did movies like Clueless and Look Who's Talking and her style was great for this movie. I was unfamiliar with the other director John Fortenberry and found that he only directed on episode of anything, so he must not have been that great. I do wish that the look wasn't so cliche but then again, it was made in the 90's so that directing style was new for back then.

RECAP: 

This movie was alright but will not be a favorite anytime soon. Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan should have been playing each other's roles, the music and the camera work was alright but cliche, and the plot was lacking. Also, this movie has Richard Grieco show up and I didn't understand why. Was it for comedy relief? As the movie may have needed it as it wasn't that great. 

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Dorian Gray (2009)

On a Scale of 1 to 10, 10 Being the Best

2

 

Plot: First of all, I read the book (Picture of Dorian Gray.Written by Oscar Wilde) and I was furious on this adaptation. There were a lot of sex scenes and opium smoking in this movie while the book vaguely referenced those, at best. Also the main character, Dorian Gray, had brown hair and brown eyes when the book states at least 100 times that he is blonde and blue eyes. Now, for the actual plot. The story is about a young man who wishes to stay young and beautiful forever after seeing a painting of himself. What he discovers is that his soul is now trapped in the painting and it will carry all his sins and physical deformities (such as age). He eventually becomes corrupted by one of his "friends" Lord Henry and while the painting becomes more hideous, Dorian Gray stays the same. It sounds interesting and it is...the book that is. The movie tries to sell itself off as horror and it doesn't work.

Characters/Actors of Note:

Ben Barnes playing Dorian Gray: I was severely disappointed in the way Dorian Gray was portrayed. Dorian Gray is supposed to show how unaffected he is by his sins and acts like a sociopath. In this film, Ben Barnes shows a very angry person who is constantly blaming others. The ones that wrote the script added in a story line of abuse which, in turn, created a vengeful and sulky person. He came off angsty and annoying. I am not familiar with other Ben Barnes movies but if he plays all his characters as sulky angry people, I am not interested.

Colin Firth playing Lord Henry Wotton: I have actually never seen Colin Firth play the bad guy before so this was a little interesting for me. Although the character in the book is perfectly horrible and was in this movie, I was upset that Colin Firth seemed to steal the show. Don't get me wrong, Lord Henry is a large part of both the book and movie but I felt that instead of the movie being focused on Dorian Gray's soul they focused way to much on Lord Henry corrupting him. I wish that Mr. Firth would have backed off his crazy so Ben Barnes would have been more of an upfront character. 

Rachel Hurd-Wood playing Sybil Vane: This former Peter Pan star has grown up and I was quite excited to see her in this movie...only to be disappointed. I found Ms. Hurd-Wood to be so soft spoken that it was hard to believe the actions she later took. When she got angry it seemed unreal and it appeared she was trying hard to be angry. I feel a more charismatic person should have been cast.

Music: Like horror movies? You should like this music then. If you thought you were watching a drama, then you won't like this music. There was too much heaviness in the music that made you suspicious the entire time you watched the film. At times it fit but other times I thought it was too much of a scary tone. Like Mr. Firth, it should have backed down.

Camera Work/Cinematography: I can't state enough how much the cinematography annoyed me in this film. This isn't a horror movie but the director tried to make it seem that way. The painting would hiss and groan, the angles made you think "someone was watching," and the overall greens and whites were overused and overdone. This is a drama, this is isn't scary, stop making it look like a two-bit horror film.

RECAP: 

This movie was dark and tried to convince the audience it was a horror movie. Guess what? Not buying it. I am frankly a big scardy cat and this movie just made me mad with its all the sex scenes, the horror music, and the acting. Mr. Firth was too big, Mr. Barnes was too angsty, and Ms. Hurd-Wood wasn't enough. Put those all into the book being butchered, count this as a no go. 

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Winter's Bone

On a Scale of 1-10 With 10 Being the Best

6

Courtesy of Pinterest

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Plot: A 17-year-old girl named Ree, is basically raising her family when one day she receives troubling news. Her drug-addicted dad missed his court date which means her house will be taken as his bail. She has to travel across the town, located in the Ozark Mountains, to find him. She runs into trouble with those who used to sell drugs or buy drugs from her dad later on and a mystery has to be solved, Where is Ree's dad? This movie is labeled a "thriller" but consider it more of a drama. The pace at the beginning of this movie is the same throughout the film, which is not a thriller quality.

Characters/Actors of Note:

Jennifer Lawrence playing Ree: I am kind of noticing a trend with Jennifer's characters. They are usually dry, non-emotional, and talk pretty quiet. You can see this in Silver Lining Playbook, The Hunger Games, and the X-Men: Days of Future Past. I wasn't too awestruck with this character and actually found a lot of the characters to be the same way. They are all quiet, country, with some trashy nature in them. I do like Jennifer Lawrence but this performance just wasn't anything new to me. She didn't have much dialogue to go off of and you understood that she was desperate and determined, just like her other characters. Sorry, Jennifer I just wasn't impressed. 

John Hawkes playing Teardrop: This character was different from the others, kind of. Teardrop is Ree's uncle. He was country, quiet, and trashy, and he was addicted to drugs. What I liked about this character is that he went from this rude lone wolf, to a less rude father figure for Ree. When Ree was in trouble, he found her and got her out. Then he helped her solve the problem and later got chicks (Not ladies but baby chickens) as a gift for the family. At the end, Ree offers him an object which he denies as he is on a mission that he may not come back from, which shows he is finally taking responsibility. This character grew in at least one aspect and the other characters did not. That is why he is my favorite character in this movie.

Music: The only times they had music in this movie was when people were actually playing and singing it. Otherwise this movie was dead silent. It wasn't too bad without it though and the music they had was Southern, which I like. I hate when movies have that scary violin music when something is about to happen and the silence prevented that from happening. I suppose the point was to just focus on the story and not the mood.

Camera Work/Cinematography: This movie is very much grey and blue. It is supposed to be winter during this time and it doesn't really snow there. It kind of gets icy and wet and I guess the cinematographers wanted the audience to feel like they were in winter. I got tired of those colors though and at times got bored with the movie. It just didn't catch your eye. Although, when the story is about trashy people, I suppose it isn't supposed to catch your eye.

RECAP:

The movie is dark and cold to look at. It isn't as much as a thriller as it is labeled, there are no chase scenes between the villain and bad guy (as there isn't really a bad guy). There are no clues to find. There are no real people to get information from. What there is, is a story about a girl who is trying to keep her family together despite all the frustrations of others and her own frustrating qualities (such as not having a car to drive). I liked the uncle and niece relationship as it grew. This movie also wasn't predictable and it didn't get stupid with, "I shall avenge my father! Roar!" Ree did what was needed to be done to keep her family together. I'd watch it again but for the drama aspect. 

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42

On a Scale of 1-10 With 10 Being the Best

8

*Seal of Approval*

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Plot: This story is about Jackie Robinson who was chosen to play baseball, because he was black. The Baseball Executive decides it's high time that a predominately white sport has a black baseball player much to the surprise and hatred of many. The movie goes through Jackie Robinson's, and his wife's, experience through the first integration of baseball. The film has a pretty rocky start and as it was so choppy that I thought it was later in years than it actually was but it is a nice film, a good flick to watch with the family!

Characters/Actors of Note:

Chadwick Boseman playing Jackie Robinson: I loved this character a lot. This story is based off of a true story, if one is reaaaaally that unknown to baseball, of Jackie Robinson. This character had to be strong against racism and was made to understand that he was fighting these bigoted people, not lying down but by lying down. Jackie was told when he signed that he would face horrible comments, slurs, and even death threats and that he couldn't let his temper get to him. He had to let those things pass and not scream or punch back. Jackie Robinson had to act like the Ghandi of baseball and he did it! How cool is that? All those that did horrible things to Jackie were known as racists losers and did lose a lot of fans for their hatred. This actor did a great job as Jackie, in my opinion. First of all, he looked like a baseball player. He had long arms and looked as physically strong as a baseball player (they showed off his chest several times in the movie). Every time he stole a base, I was cheering him on as if I were watching a real game. Chadwick also had a wonderful connection to the actress playing his wife. I never thought it was over-the-top or cheesy. They had a wholesome and cute marriage from the actor portrayal I saw. Also, he handled playing a well-known historical person awesomely. 

Harrison Ford playing Branch Rickey: If you have ever seen Indiana Jones or Star Wars, forget that Harrison Ford because this guy was different. Branch Rickey is a man of God who often says thought provoking things to others. When Jackie doesn't want to play, Branch says that Jesus took blows without hitting back. When a coach won't play the Dodgers because of Jackie, Branch asks him if he died and went to Heaven and God asked him why he didn't play on that date, and the reason was racism, he didn't know if God would let him through the gate. Some may not like that but they have to think that back in 1946, Christianity was practiced by everyone, so everyone could understand those metaphors and their weight. I loved the quietness Harrison gave this character. He had a deep gravely voice but never really shouted or got too excited and that I liked. 

Nicole Beharie playing Rachel Robinson: I also loved this character. Rachel Robinson was classy but was like her husband in that, she wasn't afraid of racism. In one scene she marches straight into a White Only Ladies Room without even thinking about it or listening to her husband. You also realize, that Rachel Robinson had to worry about racism just as much as her husband, as her and her family could have been harmed. She received just as many threats and was not worried. She still went out to the games, still had babysitters, and still went on walks with her husband. Their relationship was so cool to watch as her victory was his, and his struggle was her struggle, and their love just grew. Nice to see a marriage not crumble to bits or be completely smutty with sex scenes. Lots of kisses and hugs and for that, I love.

Music: At times I thought it got hokey with the 1940s music and other times I was really into it. I felt orchestra pieces were more in need in this film. The song I enjoyed the most was during the credits called, "Did you see Jackie Robinson Hit that Ball?" So perhaps I'm just a hypocrite. 

Camera Work/Cinematography: When the movie starts, it looks pretty choppy. It's scene cut after scene cut which was distracting to me and it made me think that there were time jumps, which there weren't any actually. They also started the movie with the stereotypical yellow dirty thirties background color. Later they took it out and replaced the yellow with greens, blues, and reds. During this middle time there was more flow between scenes and you knew where it was going. At the end of the movie they kind of went back to the choppy look by going from the field, to the Baseball Executive, to his wife, to the crowd. I would have liked if they just stayed on the baseball field! I liked the brightness of the film and how the colors worked with one another, when those colors weren't mostly yellow that is.

RECAP:

The movie comes off choppy but I enjoyed the cast and the story line. I thought this movie was family friendly and cute. At first, I was wary of this movie thinking, "Okay, am I going to be thrown into a scary slur and beat up watching movie?" Gladly, I was not. Those were there, as that was the point! Jackie Robinson was asked into baseball to fight off racism, to be called those things, and then rise above them by not playing their rules. He played the rules of baseball and that is was mattered. I wouldn't put this movie as another "inspirational sports movie" as IMDb does. I put it down as a movie like The Natural. A classic baseball movie.

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Winter's Tale

On a Scale of 1-10 With 10 Being the Best

5

Image Courtesy of Etsy

Plot: Peter Lake finds himself deeply in love with a dying woman, named Beverly Penn. BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE! Peter Lake is a thief that used to work for an evil demon named Pearly Soames and now that demon is after Peter due to his "miracle". Essentially, devils don't want people to die with their "miracles" acted out as they will go to heaven. Pearly plans to kill Peter and anyone else to prevent him preforming his miracle. The movie takes a turn on whose miracle will save who. This movie is sadly predictable and the movie seems to jump from place to place (and time periods) but I thought it was so pretty and cute that I may watch it again.

*Note that this is based off a book so much of the cool details were probably taken out.* P.S. This is not based off the Shakespeare play like I thought. The book is written by Mark Helprin.

Characters/Actors of Note:

Colin Farrel playing Peter Lake: I think Mr. Colin Farrel did a fairly good acting job. His character is trying to find out his real purpose. This is reinforced when he loses his memory later on in this film. I kind of missed as to why Colin Farrel chose to give his character such a thick Irish accent when he was raised in America since he was a baby. I also didn't quite understand how Colin didn't figure out his former employer was a demon and also how a mortal even works for demons without selling his soul or something.  This character didn't have enough back story to really make sense. I do think that Colin Farrel's emotions with his lady-love were appropriate and not over the top. Much appreciated.

Jessica Brown Findlay playing Beverly Penn: Ms. Jessica Brown Findlay does a lot of narration for this film and I loved it and I'm glad they chose her instead of Colin to do the narrations. Her dialogue was great and easily quotable. She was also slightly British which makes me happy as everyone loves a British accent!  (Except the one British accent with the 'r' sound when there is no r in the word. That's annoying to me.) I thought she played her character as a loving and gentle soul well and it was very easy to like her character. 

Russel Crowe playing Pearly Soames: Holy snot rockets was this guy scary. I personally HATE it when characters faces change to something scary and he does it a couple of times during this film. His pure unadulterated hate for Peter is evident and the way he loves to kill makes me want to do this...

A new found fear has been sparked for me for this usually heroic actor. I like how Mr. Russel Crowe has decided to stretch is acting skill wings (Yes, that is an reference to this film) and decided to play a pretty scary guy.

Music: The tones and score for this film was sweet and loving, with the occasional scary sounds for the villains. It was so-so. 

Camera Work/Cinematography: This movie used lens flares, CGI, and textures to give this film a very pretty look. Some of it though, was not necessary or too over the top. For example, Peter Lake has a horse in the movie and let's just say that during some parts the horse looks way too...flashy. I also thought this film was too fast and jumped too often. I almost wish that two different movies were made. One with Peter Lake and Beverly and the second with Peter Lake in the year 2014. I feel, without reading the book, that a lot of details and important clues were cut from the film. 

RECAP: 

This movie was quite adorable from the little girl, to the relationship, and the "miracles." It was predictable and at times too flashy. I would watch it again but probably never own it. Those who love romances will probably love this and those who don't will probably give it an "eh" rating as well. 

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The Verdict

On a scale of 1-10 With 10 Being the Best

6

Gif courtesy of Pinterest

Plot: An alcoholic lawyer, named Frank Galvin, whose only income is making money off of being an "ambulance chaser" has his life changed when his friend Micky Morrissey gives him an "easy" case. The case is a woman who is brain dead thanks to the negligence of a doctor. Frank is ready to pick up his settlement check to keep this horrific news out of the papers and the hospital's name clear, until his conscience changes his mind. Frank now has to fight a major hospital and an esteemed law firm in order to appease his morality and perhaps give himself honor.

Characters/Actors of Note: 

Paul Newman playing Frank Galvin: This character was quite interesting. He was going to funerals begging for cases, his office was a mess, and he was essentially alone. The watcher learns what his back story was that caused his alcoholism and lack of hope in the justice system. Paul Newman's voice has more low tones to it, giving this character a grave mood. I enjoyed the end of this movie as he trades places with someone that sued to be as desperate as him, which makes the watcher understand that he is changed for the better. This character never gives inspirational speeches and often does the wrong actions but despite it all, Frank isn't too disheartened and knows that he is fighting for the right side. 

James Mason playing Ed Concannon: This villain is the typical posh rich guy with the mustache. Everyone hates him right off the bat and all the underhanded tricks he uses makes me frustrated. I thought James Mason's posh voice gives the right effect as it reminded me an overbearing father. He was in charge, he was experienced, and he knew the tricks. Ed Concannon never backed down and when he had the chance to go easy on Frank, hits him in the gut... metaphorically speaking. I thought the legal fight he put up was refreshing from today's theater and for that I commend him.

Music: I actually don't remember the movie having any music but it was there! This is a good sign though, as the music blended in well with the film to the point that I didn't notice it. So I suppose, good on you Johnny Mandel!

Camera Work/Cinematography: Movies made in the 1980s are blurry due to the way filming was done at that time. There were moments of sharpness though. The effect I noticed the most were the use of shadows. This created depth and brought us into Frank Galvin's mind. Frank was in a dark place himself and the shadows and darkness made us see his situation. I noticed that the court sessions had the most light as that was the only place Frank could find a way out of his sad past.

RECAP:

I thought this film was a nice change from today's cinema. I liked seeing an intellectual battle instead of a physical one. It wasn't too complex in the legal terms either which makes it easy to understand. The acting was quite good and the way the director brings us to Frank's miseries and then brought us out, which was great. It is a good law movie to watch with anyone in my opinion. I think it's similar to this other great law movie. 

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Clue

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 Being the Best

8

Image courtesy of Pinterest

Plot: If you know the board game, you will have a basis of this movie. It has all the characters that the board game does plus a few more! The film starts with all the characters coming to a mysterious dinner party (hence the picture above) with the butler and the maid who seem to know what's going on. Immediately, the new character Mr. Boddy dies (The first body found is from the guy named Boddy? Coincidence?) and, like the game, you try to figure out who done it! This film has a lot of jokes, is light, and overall pretty fun to watch.  

Characters/Actors of Note:

Tim Curry playing Wadsworth: Tim Curry is one of my favorite actors as he is so fun to watch. He gets pretty excited when he acts and his accent makes me smile. Having him play the butler was absolutely the right choice as he brought the humor to the end of the movie, which could have been taken way to seriously if anyone else tried to do it. 

*PLEASE NOTE* That the other actors were good but none of them really got the chance to shine and do their own thing so it I didn't critique those actors. 

Music: The music in this movie was so CORNY but it was also great. The music was a balance between suspense and jolly good fun as it had to be both light and funny with deaths. I kind of picture the composer was writing songs for a horror movie but was a part time clown. The actual composer is John Morris, who did the music for most of the Mel Brooks movies if that gives you an idea of how it sounds. 

Camera Work/Cinematography:  Since this was made in 1985 the film quality isn't too great. The camera work was not the best and I wasn't expecting it to as this is a thriller-comedy which are usually pretty cheesy. Most the of time the colors were pretty dark and the lines weren't very defined.

RECAP TIME: 

This movie was so fun to watch. It kept me guessing and the end was so perfect. If you want to watch a comedy that is clean and engaging, this is for you. Though you may need a grater, because this movie is so cheesy! 

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Darjeeling Limited

On a Scale of 1-10, with 10 Being the Best

7

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Plot: Three brothers haven't seen each other in a year due to their father's death. To make up for lost time one of the brothers, Francis (Owen Wilson) decides that all the brothers should go to India to "find themselves." It is found at later that Francis has a hidden agenda and all the brothers feel they can't trust the other about their lives. They deal with grief, estranged relationships, and anger on a train called, "Darjeeling Limited." 

Characters/Actors of Note:

Owen Wilson playing Francis: Usually, Owen Wilson plays more comedic roles and sometimes his monotone voice gets sort of boring but not in this film. Francis has a bandaged face that he blames on a "car accident" but we find out later was caused by something much different. Each one of these characters has some sort of information they hide from the others and Owen Wilson's character is the one that hides the most, though he is the first to blame others for their attempts of hiding. I think that the bandages he wears are most definitely a metaphor for his grief. He tells others he is fine all the time when he is obviously the one most hurt by grief and poor relationships with his two other brothers and his mother. I thought that Owen Wilson did a good job of hiding his character's grief. So often I see in movies that hidden pain is always hinted at which was different from this movie. I thought he was strongest (grief wise), and appeared strongest to us, was in fact the weakest.  

Adrien Brody playing Peter: This brother is trying to feel connected to his father by wearing and using his father's things, most notably his glasses. He is the brother that is more obvious with his grief but shrugs it off like it's a normal thing to wear glasses that still have your dad's prescription in them after a year. Francis and Peter have an ongoing back and forth on when they like and dislike each other. Francis is jealous that Peter has more of their dad's things and Peter hates being treated like a child. Peter also has a great symbolism in more than one part. We see that he blames himself for his father's death and has to deal with, not only his blame, but with a new child and losing a child during the river and village scene. Adrien has a lovely balance with his character's secrets and openness.
Jason Schwartzman playing Jack: This character was more different than his brothers. Instead of guilt and grief being his main issues, Jack has issues with his on-and-off relationship and writing. Jack is a writer who is purely "fiction" but only can write about his brothers, dad, and girlfriend as that is all that's in his mind. He is similar to his brothers in that he won't admit that he is writing about himself, but about a made up character. Jack has an unusual relationship with an attendant on the train. The essence of this character is when she asks, "What is wrong with you?" and he answers, "Can I get back to you on that?" Jason has to play a character that doesn't understand his own grief, relationships, and motives when it they are plain to his brothers. Jason plays a nice contrast with his attitude. It gave an airy and fun feel compared to the dense power war between his older brothers.

Music: As most Wes Anderson films, the movie is set between the 60s and 70s and the music is from that time as well. I found myself bobbing along to the songs and thought the music choices were playful, serious, and also fitting well with the time period. Personally, I listened to Les Champs-Elysees by Joe Dassin at least five times after watching the movie. Listen to the rest of the music below, courtesy of YouTube.

Camera Work/Cinematography: This is directed by Wes Anderson so it has earmarks of his meticulous nature, list making, and a general color scheme. The colors in this movie remind me of the color powder that India uses for their festivals. I love the way the camera is used which has a classic Wes Anderson style to it. Usually the camera is set in one spot and the characters frantically move around that space and then the camera spins around to film the characters in the next space. It gives the camera frames a more crisp feel especially when the events happening are chaotic. 

RECAP TIME:
Having dealt with grief myself, I understood this movie on its approach on death. People feel angry, depressed, and left out. Each character was hidden and yet exposed enough that a viewer could understand even if they haven't dealt with grief. The symbolism in the movie was great. There was a man eating tiger, a poisonous snake, and each of the drugs that the brothers took. This movie has a lot of depth and feeling to it that makes me want to watch it again and again. With all the grief though, there was lightness with the small comedic bits and the craziness of their relationships. Music fit well and was enjoyable to listen to! The filming and colors were well used and the preciseness and neatness of it all brought this film together through all the chaotic emotions.

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Amelie

On a Scale of 1-10...With 10 Being the Best

5 to 6...I guess?

Close but yet I want space...Courtesy of Pinterest

Plot: It is a French movie that I had to watch with English subtitles. It is labeled as a romance but it's a strange romance. Amelie is the main character of this film who decides after doing a random act of kindess to change others lives for the better. One day, she sees a man at a photo booth and, of course, she is in love. After finding his photo album she decides to play cat and mouse with him so their love can eventually blossom. The love story is sort of cat and mouse, one chasing the other for the whole movie and becomes tiresome after a while (In fact it is almost two hours long). Amelie has some animations and CGI that are rather strange. The main character, Amelie, literally melts at one point and her crush, Nino, talks to pictures on a card and the pictures talk back. There are cute scenes in here along with some humorous parts which is what would want me to watch this again. 

Characters/Actors of Note:

Audrey Tautou playing Amelie Poulain: This movie was one of the more odd ones I have seen in large part to this character. She is so caught up in her imagination that she has no concept of how to create relationships. She watches television and imagines that they are talking about her. Her heart beats out of her chest when she first encounters her crush and makes believes that she is Zorro. She is weird to say the least but she is sweet. The chance to be brave shows itself but her personality doesn't allow herself to be brave, until the end. Another thing, if you want to watch this with your family...please reconsider. A game Amelie plays is paying attention to her surroundings which includes trying to figure out how many people are having sex during that exact moment. They do show some bits of this and includes...sounds. 

Mathieu Kassovitv playing Nino Quincampoix: This character is not shown very often but it is understood that he is equally as odd as Amelie. He has a scrapbook that he keeps of thrown away pictures that Amelie finds. He spends the movie trying to contact her so that he can get his book back. He grew up just as lonely as Amelie and keeps many strange jobs. Due to the intrigue of finding her, he falls in love with her more than he can understand. I appreciated this character as he was the love interest. Let me say that again, HE was the love interest. It was nice to watch a man be the love struck lost character for once. 

Music: The music fit so well with the movie I hardly noticed it; a good sign for a movie. Wasn't very catchy but it wasn't too distracting. Not much to say on the sound of this film. 

Camera Work/Cinematography: As stated before, it was odd. Paintings talking, people melting, a person's vision whirling upon realization. It was like a cartoon but with real people. I noticed that yellow was a major color in this film. It gave the feel of airiness but it was also an earth tone. The best way to describe how the movie looked is that each scene appeared to be lighted by the sun on different days. 

RECAP:

Plot had both good and weird parts. One moment you were thinking how adorable this movie was and the next you are sitting in your chair thinking, "What am I watching?" I was left feeling happy but not in a normal way. Kind of like if you were complimented on something bad; it feels good but was it really a good thing? The music fit alright and the camera work/cinematography fit the mood of the movie. Overall, this is a really weird romance, good or bad...no one knows.

Image courtesy of http://kedilervekitaplar.blogspot.co.uk/

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