The Lovely Bones ***

The Lovely Bones

*** out of ****

Peter Jackson's highly-anticipated film The Lovely Bones, based on the bestselling book (which, yes, I have read) is finally out. Once again, he shows his wonderful skills as a director: his compassion, his attention to detail, and his ability to craft an incredible story.

The plot of the book and film may alienate some people immediately, but for those who can handle heavy subjects, here it is: Susie Salmon is a young, happy teenager in 1973 who aspires to be a photographer and is on the cusp of her first kiss. Her next-door neighbor, Mr. Harvey, is a grade-A creepo who obsesses over Susie, and after lots of plotting and building an underground hangout, lures her down there alone and kills her. (We witness the events leading up to the murder, but not the event itself.) From this point, the movie splits its story: on one side, we see Susie rising to a beautiful, magical perfect world described as the "in-between." She makes friends with a fellow dead girl, who tells her she must let go of Earth to ascend to heaven. Susie decides to be loyal to her family and stay to watch over them. And as she does, so do we: the film dramatizes her family- father, mother, little sister and brother, and alcoholic grandma- coping over her disappearance and later acceptance that she was killed. Her father tries to aide the police in catching her murderer, while her mother wants to move on, eventually prompting her to move out. The sister and brother slowly grow up and learn to live with the pain, but the sister has a nagging feeling about her creepy next-door neighbor. Meanwhile, Mr. Harvey destroys all the evidence, is questioned once by the police but is never suspected of anything. He lives in solitude revelling in his genius.

For those of you who aren't scared away yet, let me assure you that the film is really a work of art. All of the acting is superb, especially Saoirse Ronan (Atonement) as Susie, narrating the film with an innocent gentleness, and Stanley Tucci as Harvey, who makes the viewer want to laugh at his geeky, chirpy loner- if they weren't so terrified by him. Mark Wahlberg also turns in a solid emotional performance as the father determined to keep his daughter's memory alive and catch her killer. The film is also unusually beautiful: Susie's heaven is a gorgeous mix of the landscapes of New Zealand- where director Jackson hails from- and glittery CGI. On the Earth side, the film perfectly evokes the look and feel of the 70's. Although the tale is timeless, it's difficult to picture the story taking place at any other time period. The music is also hauntingly beautiful and appropriate. And in a film that's so rich with dramatic emotion, it's surprising to find a couple of truly suspenseful scenes, most notably when Susie's sister breaks into Mr. Harvey's house looking for evidence.

This film is getting a lot of negative reviews, which I attribute to the dark storyline which may make a lot of people uncomfortable. But luckily, by taking out all of the graphic details and avoiding discussing religion, the story is able to focus on the characters. I also believe it's an improvement from the book: while the book lost itself in sex and went on forever, the film narrows the focus to Susie and her father and expands on what exactly is in Susie's perfect world. If there is a big flaw, it's that the focus is divided between heaven and earth, and the viewer has to decide which one they like better.

Also, keep your eyes open for a cameo from Peter Jackson in the photo store and a large bookcase showcasing The Lord of the Rings novels.

I've been waiting for this movie for at least a couple of years, and I can honestly say I am satisfied with this adaptation from one of the biggest names in film. It's more than beautiful, it's lovely.

I would recommend this film to fans of dramas, fantasies, and of the book.

You can watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikUWKi0W5_g

It's Complicated ***

It's Complicated

*** out of ****

Meryl Streep returns to the screen and once again proves she's the queen of the movie world in this new romantic comedy that actually delivers on both the romance, the comedy, and the heart.

Streep plays Jane, a middle-aged woman divorced from Jake, played by the excellent Alec Baldwin (TV's 30 Rock). They have three grown children, and while Jake is married to the much younger woman he cheated on Jane with, Jane is hopelessly single. The two keep bumping into each other and so inevitably end up sleeping together the night before their son's graduation, after many drinks and dancing. Jake is ecstatic at this turn of events, but Jane is horrified at herself. Things get- you guessed it- complicated when another man enters the picture and is extremely interested in Jane. Adam, played by the legend himself, Steve Martin, is Jane's architect, and while she at first all but ignores him, she slowly warms up to him and they start a gentle courtship. Jake finds out they're dating and gets jealous.

The plot revolves around this love triangle and the effects it has on everyone involved. The film offers many funny moments involving plastic surgery, infertility, marijuana, indiscretion, and a hilarious video-conference gag. John Krasinski channels Jim Halpert, except much livelier, as Harley, the man engaged to Jane's oldest daughter. Harley is the first to find out about the affair between the older couple, and seeing him struggle with the truth is one of the high points of the movie.

The three leads are all terrific and all totally believable. By the end of the movie, the audience has formed different opinions on all of these characters because they feel like very real people. Writer/director Nancy Meyers has succeeded in creating a very good romantic comedy for adults, which are rare these days; so many silly juvenile movies are released that the adults often get forgotten. While It's Complicated isn't entirely an original or inventive film, it's great entertainment that features at least a couple Oscar-worthy performances. And no, the plot is not as complicated as the title suggests.

I would recommend this film to mature viewers who enjoy romantic comedies, and fans of the stars.

You can watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE2CItUaAcA

Best and Worst Films of 2009

Best and Worst Films of 2009

As you all know, I am a pretty avid moviegoer, heading to the theatre as often as I can afford to. I saw lots of movies this year, and I couldn't help but notice a theme: there seemed to be a lack of quality films this year. I would often find there would be a month or even more before a film came out that I actually wanted to see. The thing was, the few good films that came out, were very good. As in, shape the decade, change the course of film history good.

So, I bring to you my second annual best and worst films list. I've compiled the top 10 best films and the top 5 worst films, because I tend to stay away from films that I think will be bad. As an added bonus, I have added an honorable mention to each category, because it's hard to narrow it down to so few! I must explain that this is not a true top 10 list because I did not see the majority of films that were released, I simply saw the movies I wanted to see. This is the best and worst films of the ones I saw in theatres. This also disqualifies any films I would have seen later on DVD- if it wasn't good enough to see originally in theatres, it isn't good enough to make this list.

Please note that some of these movies technically were released in December 2008, but were wide-released in January 2009- when I saw them- thus making them eligible for this list.

As usual, I would love to see comments on this post. Do you agree or disagree? Any glaring omissions? I want to know what my readers think.

"Top 10"

10. Inglourious Basterds

An unusual film even for Quentin Tarantino, this crazy WWII flick is extremely long and talky, but manages to suck you in anyway and there is never a dull moment. At some parts, the suspense is almost unbearable. Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, and Melanie Laurent are all extremely good, and the film builds to an unbelievable climax where all hell breaks loose. Actually more accessible than Tarantino's earlier films, although still doesn't appeal to every taste. A rare dark comedy from the master of current grindhouse cinema. My favorite scene? The opening with Colonel Landa questioning a farmer. Watch with a glass of milk.

9. Bruno

Just as funny as its predecessor Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen proves he's one of a kind with the most hilarious movie of the year. Sure to infuriate and disgust anyone who doesn't know what they're getting into, this movie tried to be relevant but instead was just incredibly side-splitting with its frantic five-jokes-a-second pace. The world needs more entertainers like Baron Cohen, who are willing to give themselves entirely to a role, even for comedy. My personal favorite gag- when Bruno rushes into the focus group who have just condemned his show and dances for them.

8. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

This could have easily just been part 6 of a long-running franchise, but instead was a chilling, funny, and emotionally driven film that focuses on the characters, not the special effects. Secrets come out, romances start up, and one of the most famous betrayals in modern literature make this one of the best installments in the series. Leaves the viewer thirsty for the Deathly Hallows.

7. Up

Pixar's latest gem appeals more to the younger crowd than usual, but there is still plenty to love for the adults. The animation is the best in the world, but that's only where the praise starts. It has humor, heart, thrills, and is oh-so-cute. The dimwitted talking dog Dug is my favorite character. Keep up the good work, fellas.

6. Avatar

James Cameron roars back to the screen with this amazing sci-fi epic. The story itself may be old news (Dances With Wolves, anyone?) but it's still unusually strong for a movie that has such amazing special effects- simply the biggest and best ever put on celluloid. The neon colors of the alien planet and the creatures look just as real as the humans they interact with. The movie event of the year is luckily, one of the best of the year, and made 3-D a must-see format.

5. Gran Torino

Clint Eastwood merges his old badass persona with his new sentimental side in this extraordinary film about a racist old man surrounded by Hmong people. After the teenager next door unsuccessfully tries to steal his car, he works for the old man and he eventually comes to respect these people. Like the best formula films, you forget you're watching a formula film and go with it, because it's all plausible. Also, the humor is surprisingly sharp and biting, elevating the film above simply your typical feel-good movie.

4. Paranormal Activity

A tiny movie with only a handful of actors and no crew- just the director- filmed entirely in the guy's house for just $11,000 became a national phenomenon, and one of the scariest movies ever made. What else is there to say? Only that it leaves you physically shaken. Don't see this one alone!

3. Up in the Air

A fairly new release, but this is the time when some of the best movies of the year come out. George Clooney leads an outstanding cast in a film about our sad economic times. It's depressing, relevant, and incredibly funny. Anna Kendrick shines as a young co-worker who goes on the road with Clooney. Jason Reitman's best film yet, this is a front-runner to win the Best Picture Oscar, and deservedly so.

2. The Hurt Locker

It pains me that more people haven't seen this movie. Despite being one of the best-reviewed movies of the year, this failed to get a wide release this summer, despite it being a big crowd pleaser. The story of an adrenaline junkie defusing bombs in Iraq is seriously one of the best war movies ever made, because it actually imitates war. The film is mostly waiting around for something to happen, with the battle scenes coming at you quickly and without warning. Injected with a very welcome sense of humor, the relatively unknown cast should become stars soon. This is the kind of film that benefits from positive word of mouth, so tell people about it!

1. Star Trek

An unusual choice for the best film of the year, I know, but have you seen this thing? The reboot completely redefines what Star Trek can be, with a fast-paced, non-stop thrill ride with eye-popping special effects, breathless action sequences, and real emotion in a complex storyline. The legendary characters are all redefined for a new generation of fans, and the entire cast is perfect. J.J. Abrams was the best possible choice for this reboot, and it's not just his future that looks bright after this movie. Kudos also goes to getting Leonard Nimoy to play Spock again, which united the old and young fans of the world. This got people who had never given the franchise a second thought to go back and look at the old TV episodes and movies, and look forward to the future of this epic franchise. Abrams has finally succeeded in making Trek cool.

Honorable Mention- Zombieland

The year's only zombie comedy- can you believe it?- succeeds at making you look at this genre from a new angle, and making you realize how silly it all is. The cast is hilarious, but Woody Harrelson shines as the gung-ho hick on the hunt not just for the undead, but for the world's last Twinkie. Succeeds at not only making you laugh, but also has some legitimate scares embedded within.

"Worst 5"

5. Year One

Jack Black continues to hog the screen in this inept film about stoner guys placed in caveman times. Black is so loud and proud that Michael Cera seems more like an afterthought than the other lead. Offers a few laughs here and there, but the trailer gives most of them away. The typical raunchiness doesn't help.

4. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

The most expensive movie made by children this year. Michael Bay simply rearranges the first film to make this sequel, which is all over the place. Far too often resorts to silliness and bad jokes, in an attempt to ignore the way-too-damn-complicated plot. Luckily the action sequences are good, because little else is. Why is Megan Fox back? Other than her porn-star looks, she offers nothing to the film.

3. X-Men Origins: Wolverine

A completely pointless prequel that's dull, even during its exciting parts. Full of colorful characters from the comic books, but the film makes it abundantly clear that the only characters that matter are Wolverine and his brother Victor, the two most boring characters in the whole thing. This film started the summer off with a whimper instead of a bang, and if you ask me, never should have been made.

2. Observe and Report

Seth Rogen as a mall security guard trying to catch a flasher. Sounds like a good enough premise for a comedy. This film disappointed in every regard, making the jokes repetitive and just unfunny. Rogen, usually such a likeable guy, is just a brute here, and insane at that. He's the film's hero that no one is rooting for. Who read the script and thought this was funny?

1. Adventureland*

The only movie this year that I paid for and walked out of. This film promised a nostalgic- and slightly crude- comedy about first jobs and first loves from the director of Superbad. Instead we got a huge downer of a movie that is just unpleasant to watch. Jesse Eisenberg plays the typical insecure, geeky virgin, so naturally, all the girls are all over him. Kristen Stewart is a bore, and Ryan Reynolds has no apparent reason for being in this movie. Eventually breaks down and lets the characters' lives all fall apart, and makes them all miserable. The jokes, of which there are not many, are all unfunny. Oh, and it's set in the 80's for no other reason than to be able to say it's set in the 80's. Absolutely the worst movie of the year, without question.

(Dis)Honorable Mention- Defiance

Last winter brought an unusual amount of Holocaust movies, some good, some not so good. This one looked good, but was ultimately disappointing. What it had in it were good- a real-seeming performance from Daniel Craig, some good action sequences- but it lacked a lot of stuff, including background information on the main characters, and anything new about the time period. Mildly entertaining, but the whole movie seemed to lack a point.

Well, those are my thoughts on the films of 2009. Thanks for reading all this year. Don't forget to comment!

*Full disclosure: Because I walked out of the movie before it ended, I never wrote an actual review of it. I felt it would be unfair to review a film I had not seen in its entirety. But, I believe that since I spent money on it- money which I did not get back, it's more than eligible for this list.

Precious ***

Precious
*** out of ****

The trailers for Precious make the film look like a cliche-ridden inner-city fable. Just goes to show you can't judge a movie based on its trailer. Precious is something unique. It's not the feel-good movie of the year, although you do walk away feeling a little better. It's also not a big downer of a movie like I was expecting it to be.
The title character Precious is an overweight teenager in Harlem in 1987. Her mother hates her and beats her at every opportunity, while her father sexually abuses her. She's pregnant with her second child- both from her father, she's almost illerate, and is so poor she has to steal fast food to survive. She uses her imagination to escape from her horrible existence, imagining herself as a celebrity with a hunky boyfriend, fans screaming for her autograph. After the school discovers she's pregnant, she is kicked out and transferred to an alternative school to help her get her GED. Her teacher is the lovely Ms. Rain, who makes her class keep a journal and write in it every day, forcing Precious to learn to read and write better. We see her slowly make progress in school and even make friends with the quirky girls in her class, even as things get worse and worse at home with her mother, a welfare whore. Eventually she gives birth to her baby, causing many things to change in her life and for the first time, she starts to think for herself.
Praise has to be given for the outstanding, almost-all-black cast, of which there are no slackers. Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe as Precious (not only her first film role, her first professional acting role!) is completely convincing and heartrending. When we first meet her, she doesn't have much of a personality; she mostly just sits quietly and then talks tough when forced to talk. She gradually learns it's ok for her to be herself. Comedienne Mo'Nique makes a complete transformation for her role as Mary, Precious' mother, dirtying up her usual glamorous looks and letting loose endless diatribes towards her daughter about how stupid and worthless she is. Mariah Carey also makes herself memorable with just a few scenes. She plays a social worker Precious talks to occasionally. She also de-glamorizes herself; the scratchy voice is a nice touch, but seeing her character try to remain neutral and not get emotionally involved is where she establishes herself as a talented actress. Kudos also goes to the director Lee Daniels, who was willing to make very unusual casting decisions (it also includes The View host Sherri Shepherd and singer Lenny Kravitz), and for casting someone like Sidibe in a lead role, especially one that's gotten this much attention. Both Sidibe and Mo'Nique are Oscar-worthy; they force you to keep your eyes on the screen when you might want to look away.
Even though the film is very good, I find it hard to recommend it very strongly. It's one of those indie films that offers little entertainment value to the average moviegoer, one of those indie films that no one would see if it wasn't for the strong Oscar buzz, or the Oprah Winfrey seal of approval. At times the film is extremely unpleasant- which it needs to be in order for the viewer to understand the story. While everything is shown onscreen, luckily, nothing is explicit. There is also a gentle sense of humor beneath all the ugliness.For those who can stomach it, this is a grand story of a girl becoming a woman in a cruel world that has forgotten about her.
I would recommend this film to people who like gritty dramas, or whoever listens to Oscar buzz.

You can watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xeo3IRaDeXI

Up in the Air ***1/2

Up in the Air
***1/2 out of ****

Finally, the movie we've been waiting for the whole season long: a purely enjoyable film about modern life, without any clear message shoved down your throat. Up in the Air (not to be confused with Pixar's Up) centers on Ryan Bingham, played to perfection by the marvelous George Clooney. Ryan is a compulsive traveler, on the road way more often than he is at home. His job is to go to companies and fire people when their bosses don't want to do it themselves. He's also a motivational speaker, using the metaphor of a backpack to illustrate how people need to avoid relationships and commitments. His job causes him to fly from one end of the country to another on a daily basis, rarely going home to Omaha. Despite his lack of friends, he loves his life and secretly hopes to reach ten million miles. The masterfully edited beginning sequences shows him going through the routines of checking in at the airport like one might wake up and prepare for work in the morning.
But his nomad existence is threatened by a young female up-and-comer at his company, Natalie, who proposes that they fire people via web conferences instead of traveling all the time. Ryan reluctantly takes Natalie on the road with him to show her that face-to-face downsizing is necessary because it allows the injured parties some dignity. Natalie is played by Anna Kendrick (Twilight) as an educated do-gooder who doesn't understand the way Ryan's world works.
A subplot involves Ryan meeting a sexy fellow traveler Alex, played by Vera Farmiga (The Departed) with a sparkle in her eye. The two begin a feisty yet gentle romance that neither wants to commit to.
Despite its slightly depressing- yet very relevant- plot, the film is ferociously funny, getting into the characters' minds and exposing how crazy they all are. Natalie provides the most laughs in the film, especially a scene where her boyfriend breaks up with her via text message and she gets very emotional in a hotel lobby. She also provides some of the most heartwrenching scenes in the movie, when she realizes exactly what her business entails- ending the careers of strangers. This film has truly made Kendrick a star. Watching Ryan's character resist change, and then finally accept that maybe he can change, is also a wonder to behold.
The superb cast also includes Jason Bateman as Ryan's boss, J.K. Simmons and Zach Galifianakis as unfortunate souls that Ryan fires, Melanie Lynskey as his soon-to-be-married sister, and Danny McBride as his sister's groom-to-be.
Writer/director Jason Reitman (Juno) has created something wonderful here: an immensely enjoyable film purely for adults, with the humor embedded in the dialogue and in plausible situations, instead of cinematic pies in the face that so many films resort to these days. It's a film that can make you laugh your head off and cry your eyes out, sometimes even in the same scene. It's part comedy, part drama, and ultimately, part tragedy. This is probably the definitive film of our times, with the economy in such bad shape as it is. Up in the Air will certainly plow its way through award season, and with good reason to.
I would recommend this film to fans of Clooney, comedy lovers, and anyone wanting to see a good non-franchise film this holiday season.

You can watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRofJIeElcI

Avatar ****

Avatar

**** out of ****

There are many words that can describe Avatar: Incredible. Sweeping. Exhilarating. Awesome. OMG. I'll choose just one: epic. Once again, James Cameron has redefined what an epic film can truly be. The writer/director of such instant classics as the first two Terminator movies, Aliens, and of course, Titanic, makes yet another sci-fi actioner that makes everyone in the world turn their heads. The story is at once complicated and yet surprisingly simple. The acting is always genuine, and the special effects are quite simply the biggest and best ever put on screen.

The story centers around Jake, played with an everyman charm by Sam Worthington (Terminator: Salvation), a wheelchair-bound paraplegic sent to the distant planet Pandora after his twin brother dies. Pandora has a wide array of animals both small and large, but the people on the planet are only concerned with a precious metal under the surface. It just so happens an intelligent species called the Na'vi- giant blue cat/lizard creatures about twice as big as humans- are living right over a large supply of the metal, so Jake's job is to go in and try to move them out. The catch is: he and several others are able to take over a specially harvested Na'vi body so they can walk among the natives. (They hook up to the bodies in some kind of advanced tanning bed- think The Matrix. They come back to their human bodies when their avatars fall asleep.) This means that Jake is able to walk and run again. He gets in with the tribe and is taught their ways by a fierce warrior princess, played wonderfully by Zoe Saldana. After becoming one of them, Jake realizes how wrong the humans are to try and move them. He has to do battle against the scarred, determined Colonel to save the tribe.

To create a real-looking alien species played by people, Cameron had to invent a new kind of motion-capture technology, similar to what Robert Zemeckis did for The Polar Express and A Christmas Carol, except way better. Not only do the avatars capture the movements and emotions of the characters, they actually look and sound like the actors playing them! Seeing Sigourney Weaver as a tough scientist and a big blue creature is a real treat. The Na'vi and all the other animals, and the candy-colored planet itself for that matter, all looks incredibly real, and the film's intricate camerawork (and 3-D effects) puts the audience right there with the characters. It's easy to see why this film took 15 years to finish: it's so damn intricate.

In addition to the amazing special effects, this is an incredibly well-made film. The editing is masterful, letting you know in the first five minutes this is not just another hokey alien special effects film. The music is grand and aids in the emotions, the futuristic sets and props look authentic (even though it does look like they borrowed more than a couple ideas from Aliens), and the story is everything you'd want from an epic film like this- and everything you'd expect from a talented writer like Cameron. The plot may get predictable, but it's thrilling every step of the way. It offers real comparison to movies like Star Wars and Jurassic Park. The action and battle sequences are outstanding, as are the thrilling scenes earlier where Jake has to learn to fly on a giant winged creature.

Little-known actor Stephen Lang makes a wonderful villain as Colonel Quaritch, who kills with such a matter-of-factness like he's reading a report. The film also co-stars Michelle Rodriguez (TV's Lost) as a sexy pilot, Joel David Moore (Dodgeball) as a technician (he also gets his own avatar), and Giovanni Ribisi as the leader of the humans on the planet.

The film is really pretty flawless. If there's something to gripe about, it's the length. (Two hours and forty minutes.) As an epic film, it is fitting to be that long, but as a 3-D film, it does give one a headache after that long. (And of course I have only good things to say about the IMAX format. The giant screens, monster sound system, and vibrations under your feet really do elevate the film to an experience. See the film in this format if at all possible.) This naturally won't be as popular as Titanic (what would be?), but it truly is the movie event of the year and will definitely go down as one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time.

I would recommend this film to anyone who likes sci-fi, fantasy, or action films, or anyone who wants to see a kick-ass movie this holiday season.

You can watch the trailer here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PSNL1qE6VY&feature=spotlight

Invictus ***

Invictus
*** out of ****

Nothing like a Clint Eastwood movie in theatres to let you know awards season is in full swing.
Invictus stars the great Morgan Freeman as South African president Nelson Mandela, soon after he is elected and facing a country divided in two: the black and white people in the country see each other as enemies. Mandela uses the most popular sport in the country, rugby, to try and unite the country. The Springboks are currently a disgrace of a team and the blacks refuse to root for them. Mandela has the team captain Francois over for tea, and inspires him to inspire his own team to go and win the World Cup. Thus they start winning, making public appearances, and eventually go on to capture the country's hearts.
Freeman is utterly convincing as Mandela, getting his accent down pat and coming across as an incredibly decent person trying to do the best thing for the country that put him in jail for thirty years. Mandela works himself to exhaustion, although the film gives the idea that he was more interested in the rugby team than he was in actually leading the country. Matt Damon once again proves his acting chops as Francois, the team captain determined to make Mandela and South Africa proud. The supporting cast- almost all completely unknown- are also very good and faithful to their real-life counterparts. Eastwood's films are usually quiet and slow, but this is something very different. The rugby sequences catch the intensity and rough nature of the sport, and even during the other scenes, the characters keep the plot moving and the film watchable. (The film also follows Mandela's bodyguards, which include blacks and whites, as they try to protect him as he constantly exposes himself to threats. It's an unnecessary subplot but it does make the film more interesting.) While the ending is never in question- it's based on a true story, after all- the final match is frought with suspense so that the finale delivers the emotional goods.
Compared to other real-life sports dramas, this isn't particularly special, but it is meticulously well-made and its star power elevates it above average. The incredible musical score and impressive original songs definitely help. The film is entertaining, but what it really lacks is relevance to an American audience. Who knew Eastwood, the king of Westerns and sad, quiet dramas, would actually be good at making a rugby movie?
I would recommend this film to fans of sports movies, and fans of the stars.

You can watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9Ovkye6lac