Drive

Ryan Gosling starred in 4 movies over the past year - Blue Valentine, Crazy Stupid Love, Ides of March and this psychological thriller. I adore his work in all 4 films, but he really raised his character-actor street cred in this one. He became the epitome of a soft-spoken psychopath with a heart. The movie itself is told through long, drawn-out scenes which ordinarily would bore and then annoy me. But, the film score is what sets the film apart from any other heist/thriller film I've seen. The new wave electronic music made the slow-paced scenes eerily enjoyable to watch. Bryan Cranston (of Breaking Bad fame - just getting into the first season right now) was amazing, as was Albert Brooks who I've never seen play such a slimy character before. Rating - a throwback to the 1980s heist/thriller films with a kick-ass movie score. Definitely worth an hour and a half of your time. Bootleg it like I did, or queue it up via netflix.

Please Vote for Me

My friend Seven (Ninja Seven, at times) recommended I see this documentary. He called it the best documentary he'd ever seen. I might just have to agree with him. This film was mezmerizing from start to the finish. The incubant class monitor (who's been a monitor since 1st grade - no term limits!) and the two new candidates showed the excitement and pain of running a campaign. The supporting/overbearing parents of all three kids showed a little bit of what life is like for these only children in China. They have a lot of pressure on them to succeed. Who knew 3rd graders voting for a class monitor would be so captivating? Well, if you film it in central China where no one ever talks about democracy, an elementary classroom election campaign becomes extremely interesting. I'm shocked it even got filmed. I read it hasn't been screened in China...yet! PBS screened it and it appeared in a variety of film festivals back in 2007. Thanks to Netflicks, it's entered mainstream America. Rating - Everyone should watch this documentary. Get Netflicks immediately, if you don't already have it, and queue it up!

The King's Speech

Everyone kept telling me I needed to see this film. I found out why. It's heartwarming, hilarious, and well acted. I've been a Colin Firth fan ever since the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice made its VHS way into my heart (side note - the actress who played Elizabeth in Pride & Prejudice plays Geoffrey (not Gregory) Rush's wife in this film). I was blown away by Colin's performance as the stammering Duke and reluctant King. The scenes between Colin and Geoffrey who played Lionel, the Australian speech defect instructor, cracked me up (fuck fuck fuck fuck, tits!). And, as always, Helena Bonham Carter made every scene she was in a tad bit funnier. This was the first film I didn't automatically think she was Carla from Fight Club (in every other film, I see her as Carla...kinda like how John Stamos will always be Uncle Jessie to me). I loved how the story unfolded, showing the personal side of the King and all the challenges he faced and overcame thanks to his courage and help from his friend Lionel. Very inspiring. And, shout out to Guy Pearce, the best acting chameleon of his generation. I didn't recognize him for the first 5 min he was on the screen. Rating - A must see. Colin Firth deserves the Best Actor for this one. And, Best Picture would not be out of the question.

Exit Through the Gift Shop

My friend Emily recommended I see this film. I'm glad she did because I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm a fan of street art and ecentric artists. The star of the film, Thierry Guetta, is not so much an artist as he is an eccentric (somewhat skitso) entrepreneur who creates art to sell an image. He begins filming a handful of legendary street artists and then stumbles into a documentary that gets salvaged by one of the most allusive street artists - Banksy. Banksy directed this documentary and what a fine job he did. I loved how he weaved the story together and still managed to keep me on the edge of my seat. The film was visually and psychologically thrilling to watch. I couldn't believe it when he showed some of his stensil pieces on the seperation wall in the West Bank. I recognized one of them from my time over there going from Jerusalem to Ramallah. I didn't realize that was his work until I saw it again in this film. Amazing! I saw Shephard Fairey's work many times along U street and in a proper exhibit at the ICA in Boston. Who knew he was instrumental in creating this larger than life character of Mr. Brainwash (a.k.a. Thierry Guetta)? Rating - Banksy got the Best Documentary Oscar nomination, so this counter-culture phenomona just might be mainstraim now. Sadness. Nothing great can stay a mystery for long.

Blue Valentine

The Oscar nominations were announced yesterday and Ryan Gosling was not included in the Best Actor category. Bollox! Ok, maybe I'm a little biased because I love anything Ryan Gosling does (Half Nelson, the Notebook, Remembering the Titans). Michelle Williams definitely deserved her Best Actress nomination, yet the person who elevated her to a Meryl Streep level was snubbed. Just bullshit! This movie ran the gamut of love - from the sweetest beginnings of new found love to the painful nothingness of falling out of love. Michelle and Ryan played so well off each other that by the end of the fim, their love story broke my heart. Guess Hollywood had too many best actor nominees this go around. Boo to you, Hollywood! Rating - It's an intimate film with great use of the camera (phenomenal in/out focus shots), so see it when it comes out on DVD.

Somewhere

Sophia Coppala's latest film stretches the word mundane to the farthest visual edges of the big screen. But, I believe (err, I hope) that was the point of the film. If so, than bravo to Ms. Coppala. Stephen Dorff played Johnny Marcos perfectly, if he was playing a role at all. I wouldn't be suprised if he was channeling his own pockets of mundane party living in LA. His relationship with his daughter played by Elle Fanning (sister of Dakota) is the only thing that seems to give him purpose in life. The film ends in the most annoying way any film can end - without a conclusion. Where is Jhonny Marcos going in the last scene? I guess the fact that he's going somewhere is the point. For the whole movie, he was figuritvely moving in mundane circles. Maybe that's what LA celeb life can do to you. Ms. Coppala's film had me stepping back and looking at my own life to see where it's going. So for that and for bringing Stephen Dorff out of the has-been actor pool, I thank Ms. Coppala. Rating - DVD this one. Not as good as Lost in Translation, but interesting just the same.

The Boondock Saints

I never saw this movie before. It's shocking, I know. Apologies to all my Irish family and friends for my tardiness. William Dafoe is amazing in this film. He always used to spook me with that skeleton face and those menacing eyes. But, his performance in this film made me see him in a different light. That man can act! The brothers are wonderful together, too. They make vigiliantism look like gun-toting fun, which is my only philosophical problem with the film. Artistically, I loved how the story was told and shown. But, I didn't like how killing became OK in the eyes of the cops and public as long as the evil folks were the ones getting killed. The whole thing reminded me of Reservoir Dogs, but with a more comedic bent. My only question is: Where did Sean Patrick Flanery go after making this? Off the face of the earth?? Rating - I probably won't watch it every St. Paddy's day like a good Irish girl, but I'd see it again for sure. And, so should you.

Weeds - Season 2-3

My co-worker friend brought me back a bootleg copy of Season 2 from Islamabad. It only took me one long afternoon to find out what happened to Agent Wonderbread and what it took to build your own growhouse. The season 2 finale made my jaw drop. So, I immediately hopped on NetFlicks (1 month free trial folks!) and watched all of Season 3 to find out how Nancy and the family got through that craziness. I'll wait a bit before I start season 4. Season 2&3 were just so damn captivating. I need time to digest all that drama. Nancy started coming into her own as a drug dealer, thinking on her feet amidst all the thuggery and stepfordiness milling around those ticky tacky little boxes on the hillside. I don't know if Season 4 could be as good. I'll watch and review in the near future. Rating - If you have a morning/afternoon to spare, grab a frappaccino, diet coke, or bottle of wine (cause that's all Nancy drinks) and get on NetFlicks to instant play these seasons.

The Breakfast Club

There was a free screening of this classic John Hughes comedy at the Black Cat tonight. First, if it's free, it's for me. Second, I will always jump at the chance to see a John Hughes film on the big screen. I grew up loving his films, particularly this one after repeatedly seeing it on TBS/TNT/USA. Watching it tonight was just as enjoyable as seeing it as a kid. The one-liners and dance moves never get old. Bender (a.k.a. Mr. Beeks from Trading Places) still plays the best asshole on film. Every line Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy utter are priceless and the music is beyond epic. I just love this film to pieces. Rating - watch it anytime, anywhere, preferably on the big screen if you're so lucky.