This movie is ridiculous. Not in a fun way either. More like, Jenna Fisher’s character is a pretty unlikable character, but you don’t hate her either. She’s this weird mix of regular, not remarkable person that is totally bizarre.
Jenna Fisher’s character is married to some guy I can’t name who dies while she’s giving him a blowjob. If that isn’t cringeworthy enough, there’s a 9/11 theme throughout the movie, not even in a really poignant or observant sort of way. Jenna and her son begin to use 9/11 as the reason the dad died instead of “heart arrhythmia.” Shudder.
The cast is full of people you’d recognize but not be able to name. The entire movie is full of “hey… I know that guy… he was in that one movie…” And then not being able to name anything they’ve ever been in. A whole movie made of people you recognize but don’t know where from. It’s maddening.
If you feel like watching a pretty bad movie, with a more alcoholic and really depressing Pam-like “Office” character, this is your JAM.
Holy shit. Young Matt Damon is a FOX. Not only did he star in the movie, he wrote the movie with pal Ben Affleck and got an Oscar for it. And every time Matt Damon says “kindehgahden” I melt into my couch. If that isn’t enough for you to watch this movie, I don’t know what is.
So Matt Damon plays a tough guy hood kid called a southie in Boston. He’s also secretly a genius that lets his secret out when he solves complex math equations during his stint as a janitor at Harvard. It sounds cheesy, and sometimes it could be because we’ve all grown into the worst, cynical people ever. But the storyline doesn’t hit any snags and has some amazing dialogue.
Genius and a hot hot bitch. There's nothing better than genius + good hair. Image via writingfortherising.blogspot.com
Robin Williams’ performance as Matt Damon’s therapist/fellow south Boston man is remarkable. He has such a way about him that makes you feel so deeply for whatever character he is playing. Patch Adams, anyone?! This guy is a crazy good actor.
For some reason, I always pictured the people in this movie way older. Probably because we were still dancing to Hanson on tape when it came out. Minnie Driver as Matt Damon’s girlfriend always seemed like she was in her 30s, because she has that look about her. But it was cool to see her as a young college student in love with a bad boy genius. Isn’t that really what we all want? Maybe just a Matt Damon.
What else is there to say about any movie Matt Damon is in?! It’s good and a must-see in this era of shitty unknown movies on Netflix. Seriously, why can’t they get their shit together and get some good movies?! I mean, I love watching Arrested Development over and over again, but it’d be cool to have some other good shows to watch.
“I don’t think I want to know a six-year-old who isn’t a dreamer, or a sillyheart. And I sure don’t want to know one who takes their student career seriously. I don’t have a college degree. I don’t even have a job. But I know a good kid when I see one. Because they’re ALL good kids, until dried-out, brain-dead skags like you drag them down and convince them they’re no good. You so much as scowl at my niece, or any other kid in this school, and I hear about it, and I’m coming looking for you! Here, take this quarter, go downtown, and have a rat gnaw that thing off your face! Good day to you, madam.”
Uncle Buckis one of my favorite movies of all time. John Candy was a saint.
Love that hat. Style icon! Image via listal.comImage via nevertruetales.com
Oh my god. Kelso is going to play Steve Jobs. Better yet, someone on Two and a Half Men is going to play Steve Jobs. Eye roll city. Uh, good luck Ashton. We’ll see about this one.
50/50was awesome. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a beaut. And Seth Rogen is always charming. Even if you think he’s annoying normally, his schticky-schtickiness is lesser than normal in this movie.
Image via ew.com
The movie, if you have never seen the trailer, is about a young dude who gets cancer. It follows him dealing with the cancer, the drugs, his life, his shitty relationship that he doesn’t realize is shitty until later, etc. But it’s not all doom and gloom, because Seth Rogen is around to be the endearing, loyal, good-for-comedy-relief friend! Really, shouldn’t we all have a Seth Rogen-esque friend?!
If you’ve ever had cancer, or been close to someone who has cancer, the movie tackles what they go through pretty well. It’s not over dramatic like any movie in the 90s about cancer. It hits the ups and downs of life that surrounds a cancer diagnosis and treatment very well.
Anna Kendrick is in this movie as well, as the 24-year-old therapist-in-training. Every time she came on screen I thought “I fucking love Anna Kendrick.” If you ever saw Up in the Air, you know why. If you haven’t, watch that movie too. Clooney, Kendrick, planes. Nuff said.
50/50 is a rock solid flick, y’all. A little tear-jerky with a little belly-laugh. Just like real life.
Cate Blanchett is a goddess. She’s such a great actress. On top of that, she picks amazing subject material to act in. One of my favorite Cate Blanchett films is Notes on a Scandal. Watch it. It is awesome. Dame Judi Dench is the fucking BEST.
Anyways, Starved for anything worth watching on Netflix instant (which is pretty rare because they have some pret-ty bad shit on there. Like film grad with rich parents and no life experience bad) I chose a Cate Blanchett filmio called Heaven.
The movie centers around a woman who is involved in a solo ‘terroristic’ bombing to kill a man that is involved in drug and prostitution somehow connected to school children and the police. But instead, the bomb kills 4 innocent people, landing her in jail and another plot to kill the principle target.
Giovani Ribisi is the policeman interpreter/recorder who falls in love with her and helps her plot the death of a man and her eventual escape.
"You have decent hair. Murderer, I say!" Image via time.com
One funny part about the entire premise of the movie is that the Italian Carabinieris are totally corrupt (like drugs and teen/child prostitution corrupt), incompetent and just all around jerkheads. Except Giovani Ribisi, the dark Italian knight! So at least after watching the movie, you can understand how Amanda Knox could have gotten totally fucked over in jail for 4 years for a crime that had evidence against her being guilty. But I guess the police force didn’t feel like working too hard today, or even adding up the facts! Note to self: Do NOT fuck up in Italy.
I normally LOVE anything CB is in, but this movie is just ok. It is suspenseful and then it’s not, and could have understandably ended a couple times throughout the last 30 minutes of the movie. However, her roots get crazy dark while she’s in jail, so she has this super blond hair with dark dark roots. If I’m saying her dark roots were a high point for me in the movie, you can deduce yourself if this is worth watching. The end is pretty hilarious in a not-supposed-to-be-hilarious sort of way. Maybe just skip to that!
They get into crazy food fights that symbolize their connection, although part of the connection appears to be in danger. Image via toutlecine.com
Ils Se Marierent et Eurent Beaucoup D’Enfants
Happily Ever After (Ils Se Marierent et Eurent Beaucoup D’Enfants) is a movie about a couple and their thoughts and actions about love, marriage and affairs. The English title is actually a lame translation, but this happens often during translated movie titles. The French translation is roughly along the lines of “They Married and Had Many Children” which could be interpreted as their childish actions in regards to their relationship, love and commitment.
Image via wikimedia
The premise of the story is a married couple with a child who both have thoughts of infidelity. Stereotypically, the men in the film pine over women that are equally as desirable as their wives who they are annoyingly bored with. The men come off as weak, child-like creatures who want new, shiny toys to fuck up their lives with.
The female perspective on affairs and cheating is more contemplative. I don’t know if it’s because this is a true portrayal of a woman straying or if it’s kind of another stereotype in cheating. But then again, maybe the path to affairs is unique depending on gender. Dudes seem to go for it, without much thought, and women seem to really think about it before taking the leap.
The couple obviously loves each other, but for some reason there has been a disconnect somewhere don the line that has them both thinking of other lovers.
I really liked the movie though. It’s sometimes hard to watch infidelity in film, because it’s something I don’t understand. However, I’ve been watching a few films that deal with the subject to understand it more, like the film Last Night. Straying in a relationship or a marriage is a lot more complex than writing any individual off as a total jerkface. After all, we are all single human beings with a unique life and unique desires. Who are we to really judge someone else’s relationship and choices?
I love Charlotte Gainsbourg. She has this look in her eyes whenever she casts a sideways glance that would make you believe she is looking through different dimensions. Just amazing.
It’s in French with subtitles, and I definitely recommend it.
PS let’s learn French!!!! I’m a little bit of a francophile. They seem so fabulously salty and stylish. My fave combination.
Up All Nightis a refreshingly progressive show. In the day and age of old, crusty white men hating on the womenz, NBC totally has their shit together with talented, powerful ladies like Amy Poehler on Parks and Rec and Tina Fey on 30 Rock. Up All Night is no exception.
The lady half, of the relationship, Christina Applegate, goes to work. She’s a producer at a successful daytime talk show that stars Ava (Maya Rudolph). She also happens to be a pretty type-A personality that would go absolutely batshit staying at home all day. And the man-y half, Will Arnett, leaves his post as a lawyer to stay at home with the baby. It’s less gender-forced roles and more focused on these two people as individuals with different personalities and talents that lead them to work or staying at home. Can you feel the fresh air? Ahhhhh.
The legend, the dame, Maya Rudolph. Image via hollywoodofficial.com
Christina Applegate and Will Arnett are an awesome on screen couple too. Their characters are very normal and reasonable, kind of hipster-ish, but the kind of hipsterism (that’s the worst word in the world btw) that exists in mid 30s folk who still have a yearning to be cool burning in them but they have a kid and jobs and responsibilities and shit.
Plus, anything with Maya Rudolph is totally worth watching. I can’t take my eyes off her. She’s brillz!!
What to expect when you’re expecting (this movie to be awful)
Speaking of men being hands-on fathers in entertainment, the movie What to Expect When You’re Expecting also spends a fair share of the film centered on a group of dads that tote their babies around parks and have a secret dad society. In this dad society, they totally own being a hands-on dad in their own way. It’s not feminized, like so many ‘stay at home dad’ movies in the past.
I am totally digging this new foray into movies and television featuring hands-on parenting by either sex. It really doesn’t matter which gender is staying at home, walking their kids, feeding them, etc., however it is nice to see some progressive jaunts into men’s men taking on the mighty task of staying home with the kids. Kudos, Hollywood!!
SO HAWT, all of 'em. Both of these dudes are just stunning beings. Image via buzznet.com
The movie is a quite a bit longer than most action movies, which was really good in terms of telling a lot of what was in the book. You can’t even catch a breathe during the film. It’s not as if it’s too busy and fast-paced, it’s that the movie goes along at a fitting pace that keeps up with the suspense.
Jennifer Lawrence was fucking rad as Katniss.
The trio of actors in The Hunger Games are definitely the hottest trio EVER. And I don’t think Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart or that other guy give any kind of shit about it either. They have always been uncomfortable with the spotlight. And I’m pretty much 100% positive they think all their fans are fucking idiots. Which makes me like them more. However, the HG kids seem like strong, solid, smart actors that can deal with the newfound fame in a witty way.
Also, it was nothing in the Twilight realm of romance. It’s there, but it’s not even the two main story lines, which were “don’t die” and “don’t mothafuckin DIE”.
The movie was pretty accurate to the book, with some minor outliers and teeny plot tweeks here.
Image via goodreads.com
One of the things about the movie that I was looking forward to was Capitol fashion. And unfortunately, I think they could have done a WAY better job. The clothes were cool, but crowd shots of the Capitol looked like an 80’s prom with better styled hair. Effie’s outfits were good. I just always imagined really structured, strong pieces with a lot more creativity put into them. If Marc Jacobs could style the next movie, Catching Fire, then we’d have some fucking fashion eye candy while, you know, our souls were being teared out by death for entertainment.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a film about Nazis and the Holocaust from the perspective of a little boy. He and his family move away to “the country” so the father, a Nazi soldier can be in charge of a concentration camp. The little boy, Bruno, gets bored at their new home and takes off to the country and for exploring. He runs into a strange “farm” where people wear striped pajamas and act peculiar. He meets a little boy on the other side of the fence, wearing those funny striped pajamas, and befriends him.
The storyline is a unique one in terms of Holocaust films, as the story mostly flows from a child’s thought process and confusion about the Holocaust. It’s interesting to view all of this through a child’s perspective, as young Bruno was lonely and met a nice friend, albeit on the more unfortunate side of the fence.
The thought that anyone, let alone confused, sweet children were killed in the Holocaust (or in any genocide) is just soul-crushing. Image via ncowie.wordpress.com
The movie is in English, which confused me at first because it was British English, so I thought they were British Nazis for the longest time. Languages and accents can be confusing in movies if the subject matter doesn’t pertain to a specific language. But yeah, they are German.
It’s a touching film that opens up a realm of thought focused on what children on both sides of the fence understood and didn’t understand about what was happening throughout Nazi Germany. It makes you think about your curiosity and confusion about certain things as a child as you put yourself in these little boys mindsets about death, imprisonment and friendship. Definitely a good movie.
Oh, and Lupin from Harry Potter plays the Nazi dad. It’s always fun to spot a Harry Potter actor!
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