All reviews - Movies (10) - Books (2)

In Bruges - Do Not Miss this Film

Posted : 3 days, 3 hours ago on 16 August 2008 10:50 (A review of In Bruges)

In Bruges is a delightful action comedy starring actors Ralph Fiennes, Colin Farrell, and Brendon Gleeson.

The film begins when two assassins, Farrell and Gleeson, are sent to Bruges, Belgium on boss's orders (Fiennes) after Farrell's character, Ray, accidentally kills a child in addition to his main target.

I admire this film specifically because of the 360 degree view you receive of the characters. Ray is a complete cynic which is only increased as he struggles to come to terms with his grave mistake. His vulgar and pessimistic comments are sometimes offensive, sometimes hilarious, but he never strays from his true character. A warning, however - he has a ridiculous contempt for Americans, and a lot the film's major jokes are about this contempt. I'm American, however, and I found it to be quite hilarious, and the film never uses it as a representation of their own view points, but rather about Ray's own faults and misguided judgements.

Gleeson's character, Ken, is a lovable man who falls in love with the town of Bruges because it is the most well-preserved medieval town in the country. He attempts to get Ray interested as well, but gives up quickly and declares Ray to be "the worst tourist". Still, Ray begrudgingly follows Ken despite his overwhelming desire to head to the nearest pub.

As the movie progresses, however, their bosses true intention of sending them to Bruges is revealed, and when Ken discovers this, the action of the movie begins.

The film does fall into the trap of having Ray meet a girl in Bruges, but even this romance allows for great jokes that make the expected fling worthwhile. And being an action film, it does have various unrealistic scenes of violence that in the real world are practically unfathomable - but the almost perfect comedy allows us to forgive them for it.

I would definitely not pass this film up, as it is a completely original film that raises the bar on action/comedy.

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A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Review

Posted : 3 days, 4 hours ago on 16 August 2008 10:04 (A review of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (P.S.))

Betty Smith writes a beautiful and signficant autobiographical novel with A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

I must say this is one of my favorites, and I adore the way Smith provides an enormous picture of a girl growing up in poor Brooklyn without becoming dull and lifeless. The description of character is vivid and sensible, giving a full view of every flaw in these strong, but struggling people. Even the father, a drunkard who stumbles home at night after working as a singer at the bar, is described and then understood by us readers - someone who has simply cracked under the pressure of life in Brooklyn. But he does not give up on his children, or his family, and he ever so often attempts being a real father again, and takes Francie, the main character, on excursions and despite his flaws becomes the favorable parent.

While I have certainly grew up in more favorable conditions than Francie, I felt unusually connected to her early love for learning and for reading, and especially for her solitude. She was independent, as she had to be because of her mother's greater love for her brother, Neeley. Despite this, Francie does not blame her mother, but is instead simply aware of it, and adapts because of it.

This novel is not a small feat, but it is an incredibly rewarding one, and, after reading, one feels a great satsifaction from knowing that it continues to grow and fester inside of you, adding new light to whatever life you are living at this moment.

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Things Fall Apart

Posted : 3 days, 4 hours ago on 16 August 2008 09:50 (A review of Things Fall Apart: A Novel)

Things Fall Apart is such a beautiful expression of man - a novel that while it holds its roots in Africa, can be understood and related to by anyone and everyone. I particularly liked this book because it captures the essence of what I believes to drive humanity: insecurity.

The main character Okonkwo is seen as a strong man: he has multiple wives, he is attempting to become a more prominent leader in he village, and he has a son. However, he is painfully affected by society and societies desires that his supposed strength is a pale facade for his unbelievable fear and anger.

This novel hit home with me because as a whole, we are completely obsessed with society as our judgement, and rarely do we judge things of our own accord and our own mind. We use society as a crutch and live life accordingly. But the structure of society is ever-changing, and if we rely upon it without fail, society will surely fail us - and as the title suggests, what we know will surely fall apart.

Chinua Achebe tells us to run past our insecurities and the easiness of resting upon society's values and to create our own reason, our own morals, and our own ethics. Only then can we remain whole when things fall apart, because nothing is truer or stronger than what you believe in your own mind.

Things Fall Apart is what I believe to be an essential reading for the every day person, especially those who are growing up. I read this as a sophomore in high school and it gave me new insight as to how I shouldn't use society as a way to mask my insecurities as so many do. This novel is educational, and while considerably morose, effective in its purpose and Achebe's writing style is easy, yet magnificent.

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Garden State: Messy, but Satisfying

Posted : 3 days, 4 hours ago on 16 August 2008 09:36 (A review of Garden State)

Garden State is essentially a romantic comedy - a type of film that I usually shrink from. In this film's case, I found myself altogether captured by the realism of it all.

The movie follows Andrew, a struggling actor living in L.A., who travels home after years of silence to attend his mother's funeral. While at home, he meets up with childhood friends in his small town, attempts to salvage his severly torn relationship with his psychologist/father, and meets a quirky woman whose loving personality encourages him to rethink his current state of affairs.

While I did mention I was captured by this film, I admittedly felt it lacked completeness. Certain facts seemed to be mentioned purely to move the script along, and then never mentioned or brought up again. In other words, it is difficult to grasp just what this film is about and what message it is trying to send. Is it merely a love story? Is it a film about family and illness? Is it about reconcilliation and coming to terms with where you came from? The film never fully explains this - but then again, is life ever fully concerned with one idea and one message? Should a film have to stick to one message? Or, one major message with other meanings scattered within?

At the end of the film, while I did have my doubts, I decided that I was satisfied, but not without a few qualms. Certain areas were traveling into cliche territory - but of course, life does contain a few cliches.

And if anything, the soundtrack is wonderful. Whatever flaws there might be in this film, Garden State surely leaves an impression on the viewer.

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Review of Darjeeling Limited

Posted : 3 days, 5 hours ago on 16 August 2008 09:13 (A review of The Darjeeling Limited)

The Darjeeling Limited, while perhaps not as comedic as The Royal Tenenbaums, manages to attack the subject of family in a light that is both charming and real.

When one brother in the family suffers from a motorcycle accident leaving his face heavily bandaged, it sets off a desire to connect again with his two brothers and take them on a journey to enlightenment in India. Having contacted his considerably depressed siblings, one considering divorce from his pregnant wife, the other obsessed with an ex-girlfriend, they begin on their adventure.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this film is the backdrop of India and the beautiful location; and rather than become enlightened as planned, the characters suffer further into their flawed personalities and fall upon times that are filled with both hilarity and emotion.

I think I enjoyed this film so much because of it's reality. It could have easily become a cliche, hopelessly allowing the family to reailze their flaws on said journey. But Anderson doesn't allow it. He gives us an entirely real picture of a family - siblings who do not altogether get along, and question, if they were not related, would they be friends?

A treat from Anderson not to be missed, The Darjeeling Limited is an altogether enjoyable film that lingers within you for days.

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An eerie film that goes beyond even "Happiness"

Posted : 5 days, 22 hours ago on 14 August 2008 03:47 (A review of Palindromes)

While I tend to enjoy Todd Solondz movies, Palindromes seemed altogether unfinished and left me with a feeling of "What was the point of this?" I may have missed something, but I felt it tried to be so post-modern that it ended up making very little sense, and on top of that, I didn't find the characters all that likeable either.

My rating is based on its creativity and Solondz use of different actresses to reflect the movie's title, Palindromes, and the names given to the characters, such as Aviva, Bob, Otto, etc.

However, the intentions of Aviva go altogether unexplained, or at least, the explanation given seems to little to merit a trek across the country to get pregnant.

This movie is certainly an interesting endeavor to watch, but it leaves the viewer with an eerie feeling and, to be honest, just gives you the creeps. But what else would you expect from Todd Solondz?

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The Savages review

Posted : 5 days, 22 hours ago on 14 August 2008 03:28 (A review of The Savages)

Savages delves into areas complex and understandable - two self-absorbed siblings who must become the parent to their father who was barely a parent to them.

The two siblings, played by Linney and Hoffman, are entirely likeable, but flawed all the same. Linney plays an aspiring playwright who is struggling to form a relationship and instead is involved with an older, married man. Hoffman plays a professor with a degree in Philosophy who is in a relationship with a foreign woman who must soon go back to her own country.

The two pair beautifully together and give the movie its heartfelt comedy. Linney's character is nervous and spastic, whereas Hoffman is more reserved yet equally troubled. Despite their lack of collaboration in the years before their father's illness, they discover family again in their independent world.

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After The Wedding review

Posted : 6 days ago on 14 August 2008 01:46 (A review of After The Wedding)

After the Wedding is a film that explores such a wide variety of themes that range from rich vs. poor, materialism, father/daughter relationships, infidelity, and death.

The most compelling part of After the Wedding is the father's attempt to play God for the lives of his family, manipulating his daughter's real father and using money to set things right again. It questions the idea that the rich are spoiled and materialistic, and therefore could not possibly be helping the world or contributing meaningfully to society.

Rolf Lassgård's performance is brilliant as he portrays the manipulative but ultimately respectable and loving father, and Mads Mikkelsen (the villain from Casino Royale) gives his best as well.

This movie is not to be missed, as After the Wedding holds so much depth and in the end, is an entirely beautiful film.

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Hard Candy review

Posted : 6 days ago on 14 August 2008 01:37 (A review of Hard Candy)

Hard Candy is a film that is engaging, eye-opening, and thoughtful. It brings up the important issue of young girls and their femininity, and the role that adults play in shaping that. For example, if an underage girl flirts with an older man, you discourage it, rather than flirt back/encourage it.

The main female character and her strength are refreshing - rarely in the film world do you see a powerful, intelligent female, and especially not in a fourteen-year-old.

The film is interesting in the fact that it makes the viewer question just who is the victim, who is to believe, and who is to be trusted. After all, the two prominent characters are a 30-something man and a 14-year-old. It certainly twists societal conventions, and gives a strong message to viewers concerning pedophilia.

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The Dark Knight review

Posted : 6 days, 3 hours ago on 13 August 2008 11:19 (A review of The Dark Knight)

If we're focusing on the script alone, then The Dark Knight is a little more than a touch overrated. Certain story lines are either not explained or simply forgotten, and while there is a sequel involved, it left little to be called a movie.

However, if we're looking at the acting, then kudos to Christopher Nolan for choosing an excellent cast. Maggie Gyllenhaal shines wonders over Katie Holmes, adopting a stronger personality and fierce character (although I was still disappointed by how little the women in this film do, especially Rachel). Heath Ledger managed to bring this drawn-out movie its life, but he isn't seen nearly enough as he should have been in the film.

Christian Bale's Batman voice is enough to make anyone cringe, turning a supposed-to-be vicious seeming hero into a sound that is too forced to be taken seriously. And personally, the shallow explanations for how The Joker received his scars were painful to listen to and his choice in being a villain should have been explained more thoroughly or just deleted entirely.

As cynical as I sound about this movie, the camera work paired with its soundtrack made it a worth while two and a half hours, and Heath Ledger's acting gave it an excellent touch. While it isn't for anyone looking for a realistic, deep storyline, it is an interestingly dark take on Batman.

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