123 posts tagged “movies”
This week, the 20th anniversary edition DVD of Say Anything was released. Say Anything was Cameron Crowe's directorial debut and the first in a line of Crowe movies to utilize a kick-ass soundtrack to play with the viewers' emotions (I still can't hear "The Wind" by Cat Stevens without thinking of Penny Lane twirling alone on stage).
To commemorate the release of the movie, the band Lloyd Dobler Effect (and a slew of Lloyd Doblers) took to Time Square.
I love Say Anything, but always wondered what the appeal was about this movie. It's got a typical high school movie plot (boy from the wrong side of the tracks likes a girl from the right side of the tracks), yet I think the character of Lloyd Dobler is what really makes people love this movie. He's a loveable loser you can't help but root for. Plus,I think the other attribute is that the characters don't talk like they're from a high school movie.
However, my favorite John Cusack role is and will always remain Walter "Gib" Gibson from The Sure Thing. I feel like this Cusack character doesn't get enough love. He's a real guy's guy. The kind of guy who doesn't mind if you puke in his car. He may be rough around the edges, but he definitely comes through as a romantic in the end.
My best friend called me at midnight last night, despite my text message that I would call him in the morning because I had to get up early. However, it was an emergency. Apparently, THE KID FROM ABOUT A BOY IS NOW GROWN UP AND HOT AND ROMANCING COLIN FIRTH IN THE FILM A SINGLE MAN.
I can still remember his boyish voice hitting those sweet notes in "Killing Me Softly" with Hugh Grant. Now, well, he's just hitting Colin Firth.
Many films and television shows have been filmed in Vermont, from Me, Myself, and Irene to The Cider House Rules. However, last weekend when I was travelling through New England on a mini-break (through Vermont), I couldn't help but have one film on my mind: 1994's Time Chasers.
One of my favorite televisions shows "Mystery Science Theatre 3000" once lampooned this film in one of their episodes. I knew Time Chasers took place in Vermont by their witty one-liners ("Vermont: City on-the-go!"). And actually, despite the film's impediments, the cinematography of Vermont in the movie is quite pleasing to the eye. Because of this film, I have always wanted to go to Vermont (the film Baby Boom is another feather in the state's cap).
But one has to wonder of all the films depicting the beauty of Vermont, why did I choose this one to think about? There are plenty of films with more substance and accolades, and I chose one that was featured on a show that makes fun of movies of its kind.
Perhaps, such B movies do have an effect on audiences, after all. "MST3K" might be where bad movies go to die, but really they are getting second life. I rewatch Time Chasers all of the time on one of my VHS tapes -- more times than I've ever sat down and watched What Lies Beneath (which I also own and which was filmed in Vermont).
Rarely do I watch a movie and then read the book it was based from and am blown away by both pieces. However, Richard Yates' Revolutionary Road was the exception.
I watched the film version with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio last Christmas and couldn't get it out of my head for days. Then, inspired by the film, I decided to read the novel it came from. The novel, in fact, is probably better than the movie -- even though the film is amazing. Never before had I ever read something where every word was important. Usually, you can tell when an author has to fill a quota of so many pages. Yet, Yates' was so incredibly skillful with making each word count in Revolutionary Road (probably the best book I've ever read in fact).
I decided to read Yates' other highly acclaimed book The Easter Parade and was impressed with this achievement as well. I had one of those great late night book reads where you can't wait to see how it ends. The novel tells the tale of two sisters Emily and Sarah (although the focus is on Emily) and the way their lives turn out over the course of four decades. It's probably even more depressing than Revolutionary Road, but I think there is just as much to analyze (especially in the context of Women's Lib).
I did some research and discovered that producer Caroline Kaplan has acquired the rights for the book and a movie is in the works. The funny thing is I kinda pictured Kate Winslet in the role of Sarah. Maybe she should do another Yates book to movie.
I went to see a midnight showing of Where The Wild Things Are Thursday night. Coming out of the theatre, I was declaring my love for the film, when one of my friends said, "But it's not a kids movie."
This stopped me dead in my tracks. Not a kids movie? My friend said that it was "too scary" for kids.
Just because the monsters talk of eating the little boy at one point in the film, it's not a kids film? I don't quite understand this. There are plenty of "kids" films with darker messages. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory shows children practically being tortured in a fun factory, yet the film is now a family classic. Even The Wizard of Oz has frightful moments (personally, I think the witch and the monkeys are terrifying -- plus, unlike WTWTA, Dorothy never wins them over to the good side in the end).
It's been a while since I was a child, but are children's movies becoming softer in substance and premise in order for these movies to relate to kids? Are we sheltering kids from scariness and fright to the point where we don't want them to feel anything when they watch a film? I wonder why Wall-E or even Up get recognition for being geared toward children, when really they made politically statements and clocked in with movie times that would leave children bored. I actually described WTWTA as the "closest depiction of growing up on cinema." Yet, perhaps, I felt this way because I watched this movie from an adult perspective.
To me, Where The Wild Things Are is about imagination. There are no computers or text bullying in this film. The movie is about escaping life through your mind. I don't find this so scary, especially since the audience knows that the little boy isn't going to dream up being eaten, digested, then regurgitated.
There's been a lot of hype this weekend over Paranormal Activity, a low-budget horror movie about a couple haunted by a demon in their bedroom. My brother told me about this film about a month ago and said, "Don't watch the trailer at night because it might freak you out."
I watched the trailer during the day, but then caught the trailer at night on television and COULDN'T SLEEP. I was terrified. Not because the trailer is that scary, but because of the taglines and reviews in the preview: "The scariest film ever made!" I felt like a little kid, scared of the dark. This movie has become the adult version of the Boogeyman for me. It's not that the film looks all that scary (although I hear it is!), but it's the hype surrounding the fear. According to advertisements, I MUST be scared of this because everyone else is!
Usually, I would include a link to a preview of the film in a blog post, but I'd rather link to something non-intimidating like Bruce Vilanch.
I'm debating whether to see this film. I adore a great scary movie. However, I slept with lights on after watching Cloverfield, Drag Me To Hell, and even (sadly) Jennifer's Body. Would I be one of those people who passes out while watching this film due to extreme fear?? Should I risk public embarrassment just to see what all the hype is about?
It's not like there's much else out there to see right now. Couples Retreat isn't much better. In this film, rather than watch a couple get terrorized on-screen, the couples terrorize movie-goers off-screen.
I'm totally digging the music from Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack. I love the little kids' voices meshed with Karen O's (from the Yeah Yeah Yeah's) on "All is Love."
When I first saw The Devil Wears Prada in 2006, I, too, was a naive college graduate like Andy Sachs. I remember identifying with her, but not really caring for the film all that much, except for Meryl Streep's killer performance as Miranda Priestly.
Three years later, I rewatched the film on FX and suddenly loved the movie. In fact, every time FX shows Prada, I MUST stop and watch it. Perhaps, it's because I've been in more job situations since 2006, but for some reason The Devil Wears Prada is like a fine wine to me, better and more meaningful with age (I'd also like to think of this as a metaphor for me and my career!).
What is it about some movies that don't resonate the first time, but hit it right on the money the second time around? I also feel this way about Something's Gotta Give for some reason. Is it that sometimes people have to change before they can appreciate a film? I find it amazing that I couldn't appreciate a silly little movie until I lived just a little bit longer.
I actually think Prada is an important movie for anyone to watch following high school, college, or any sort of graduation. It's about more than a first job opportunity. It's about maintaining self-worth and integrity in any job and knowing when to leave when either one of these is compromised.
Now I wonder what other films distance might work on. I never cared for Streep's film Prime from 2005. Maybe I should give it another shot. Nah, I don't think anything can save that one.
I have often seen Tucker Max's book I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell at Barnes & Noble and even Urban Outfitters (if that isn't telling of what the book's about). Hell is a collection of short stories (personal accounts from the author) that basically depict drunkenness, casual sex, and ignorance, all from a beer-buzzed state of mind.
I can recall actually reading a few stories from this book and being appalled. It takes a lot to gross me out in most cases. And when it comes to good literature, I believe that even the grossest, most disgusting story can have value. Yet, I never understood what the big deal with this book was. It's kind of like the one book you know a fratboy will have in his collection.
Naturally, a feature film has been made starring Matt Czuchry of Gilmore Girls fame. I always wondered what Logan Huntzberger was up to after he left Rory at Yale graduation. Now, I know he's been drowning his sorrows in beer and loose women.
I'm actually a little interested in the movie based on the kickass casting. If there's anyone who can play a sex fiend, douchebag, it's Matt Czuchry. And I'm excited to see him in the spotlight again. Although, part of me is pained to think that any success from this movie will directly benefit the writer and "liver" of these escapades, Tucker Max. He really isn't lying by the title of his book. If you read only one story from the collection, you'll realize he's an awful person (and I rarely say that about people I don't know). For Tucker's sake, I hope they do serve beer in hell -- followed by a hangover for eternity.
When I first read about the film Valentine's Day (starring Julia Roberts, Ashton Kutcher, Bradley Cooper, and a slew of other annoying people), I thought, "This sounds terrible." Now, the trailer is out to prove that it looks terrible, too.
There are about thirteen things wrong with this trailer. Can you spot them?
1. Jessica Alba would NEVER have a problem finding a date on Valentine's Day.
2. Neither would Jessica Biel.
3. Furthermore, the workaholic career woman-theme (ala Jessica Biel in VD) has been overdone in romantic comedies. Really, how many times do we as an audience have to watch a woman have a relationship with her Blackberry?
4. Also, I think the abbreviation VD is PERFECT for this film.
5. Isn't this film just a water-downed version of He's Just Not That Into You (if that's possible), which was just a country bumpkin, "supersized" version of Love Actually?
6. You know Emma Roberts only got the part in this movie because of Aunt Julia.
7. Do we really need a Stealth reunion (Jessica Biel and Jamie Foxx)?
8. Bradley Cooper and romantic comedies mix like Ashton Kutcher and class (see [or don't see]: All About Steve, He's Just Not That Into You, Failure to Launch).
9. From the way the trailer is cut, it appears Eric Dane will romance teenager Emma Roberts. Ewww.
10. Does Ashton Kutcher's name really appear second to last before the "And. . ." billing of Julia Roberts???
11. Can we really fit anymore people into this movie? The trailer doesn't mention it, but Queen Latifah, Taylor Swift, and George Lopez also appear in VD.
12. The song in the trailer is just not working. At least He's Just Not That Into You used The Cure affectively. What is this? One of Jamie Foxx's new singles?
13. Speaking of which, whom will Foxx be paired up with? If we're going by romantic comedy formula, because he is black, he has to be paired up with a hispanic (see: Hitch) or with someone set up by Madea.
This is one valentine I won't be pursuing.
