Movie Review: Ruby Sparks

Ok, so part of me really liked this movie, but that is the part of me who makes the worst decisions ever with men. On an intellectual level this movie has some seriously troubling themes.

Ruby Sparks is a Zoe Kazan film about a troubled novelist and the woman he creates. The hero, Calvin, seems fairly likable in the beginning if you like disaffected creative types who have been convinced of their own brilliance only to question it later in life. He's a best selling author who hasn't been able to write a second novel, which in the publishing world is very bad. So he write about his dream girl, literally, the girl from his dreams. Enter Ruby. She is a manic pixie dream girl, a painter, free spirit, etc. Everything he writes she does...So being the lover of fiction I am, this is interesting to me. Now time for the conflict: Ruby doesn't know she is a character and is actually a person with feelings and desires.

This is where we hate Calvin. No really, this guy doesn't deserve Ruby, or anyone. He feels like he can own her, that she belongs to him, and only him. He literally can make her to anything and does. All the while recognizing this is problematic, and that he shouldn't write her anymore. During this conflict we find out about Calvin's old girlfriend, a novelist. Apparently, these relationship issues are nothing new including that he was controlling of her as well.

Zoe Kazan is brilliant; she owes some scenes, and I wanted nothing more than to comfort this girl in a manipulative relationship with a guy, when she doesn't know it. Also, given that it was written by Kazan, I may be more forgiving of some of the themes. Because while watching the film, I thought who hasn't wanted to control their partner sometimes? And in the film we see the negative effects of actually getting to control and change another person. Perhaps this was supposed to be a narrative on the nature of relationships between men and women when you think you can change other people and make them into someone else? But the ending undoes that. I'm left wondering if there are consequences for abusing others just because you can. Also, there is a weird discussion that because Calvin created Ruby he has a right to her. It is really very disturbing. Regardless, my friend and I were not pleased with the ending.

3/5 for poorly constructing relationships and letting the bad guys win.

Movie Review: Brothers on the Line

I give Brothers on the Line 5/5, I mean to say it raised the bar on films about labor.

So the it was a film about the Reuther brothers and their commitment to the labor cause. The film discusses the brothers' efforts as labor organizers and social justice activists. Also, of course their leadership during in the United Auto Workers union. It was directed by Sasha Reuther, grandson of Victor, and narrated by Martin Sheen. The film followed the brothers from the 1930s to through their leadership in the international labor movement and civil rights movement. It employs archive footage, personal photos, oral histories, and original interviews. 

Naturally, the film had flaws, but they are small in respect to the potential impact of the film. I highly recommend anyone who has the chance to see this film. Added bonus the film included the song, "Which Side Are You On?" by various artists throughout the film. Below is my favorite. 

The film is incredibly timely given the anti-labor situations rising up in Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, and many others. Here's hoping someone other than me and other pro-labor faction saw it. 

Movie Review: The Help

So full disclosure, I liked it. I like the movie and the book. I know all about the racial issues when reading/watching a book/film about race relations and domestic labor when written by a white person from the point of view of an ethnic minority. That being said, it is fiction and thus not true to life so there is no reason to disclose the race/gender/income of the author. When writing non-fiction full disclosure is necessary.

So the movie left out a few things pretty relevant to the plot and evolution of the book. One of the main things that stuck out to me was Skeeter's inspiration for writing the novel The Help. In the movie, Skeeter comes to this all on her own, but in the book she gets the idea from Aibileen's story about her son's own work about African America blue collar work. Another short coming, was the political undertones. In the book they were more evident, which is a benefit of fiction opposed to film. The author can tell you what is happening and what the characters are feeling, but in the film the director has to show you. If the viewer doesn't have a background or is young they may not get it.

Finally, the good. Casting. It was awesome. I'm not sold on giving a pretty girl glasses and frizzy hair the calling her ugly. I have straight hair, but if I took off my glasses I wouldn't be Tina Fey or Emma Stone. But Sissy Spacek, Allison Janney, and Cicely Tyson are all amazing. The dialogue felt a little punchier, and the flow worked really well.

All that said, the best part was watching this in a crowded theater with commentary. I'm serious, the elderly African American woman sitting next to me was ridiculous. Between talking about the soundtrack, the cars, and then general comments about plot. I was laughing the whole time.

I'm giving it a 5/5.

Another Film Fest Comes to a Close

This year Tim and I saw a record breaking 6 movies (yeah, I know, it's not that record breaking for some pass holders, but it definitely is for us) at the Cleveland International Film Fest. Here's the breakdown!

1. Midnight Shorts Vol. 2
There were eight shorts during this installment of the Midnight Shorts, and about five of them were really memorable so I think that's a win. The first two were just okay, and Tim and I were nervous that they would set the scene for the remainder of the movies, but they got increasingly better from that point on. The picture on the left is from a short called "Cold Turkey" about a sound effects engineer trying to find the perfect sound for someone getting punched in the face.

All in all, it was really fun to go out to the movies late at night when I'm usually in bed, ha. 3.5/5 for the group of movies.


2. Rubber: France

This was the story of a rubber tire that learns it can blow things up through telekinesis, so it goes on a killing spree. The plot was really specific and Tim and I were nervous that it may be too constricting, but it was really quite funny.

The movie had a post-modern/self-aware aspect to it that I really liked. There is an audience watching the movie on screen as you are watching in the theater, and the screen audience basically says everything you're thinking. The movie opens with a police officer saying that the movie you're about to watch is a tribute to the "No Reasons" of all other films (ie: the unexplainable from every great movie you've ever seen). Then, he pours out a glass of water, hops into the trunk of a car, and it drives away to prove that point. It was slow at times, but for the most part, just very dryly funny. 3.5/5


3. Bobby Fischer Against the World: USA

This is my absolute favorite movie we saw at the fest this year. This documentary chronicles the rise and fall of chess great Bobby Fischer. I knew a little bit about Fischer's conquests in the chess world, but had no idea what became of him after he won his title. I'm not going to say much about what happened to him because this is a must rent for anyone who likes documentaries, whether you're interested in chess or not. I will say, however, that the pictures of Fischer from the 70s are absolutely incredible. A Life photographer was assigned to Fischer and they showed dozens and dozens of pictures he took over the course of a few years. It made me want to rip the color film out of my camera.

5/5

4. With Love, From the Age of Reason: France

This was just the right amount of French cuteness for me. Margaret (pictured) begins receiving letters from her seven year old self (called Marguerite) reminding her of what she wanted to be when she grew up, who she wanted to marry, and what her childhood was like. Margaret is very shaken when she realizes that she has let herself down and she begins to try and recapture her youth through the letters. The end could have been very obvious, but it was different than I expected and that is what I really liked about this movie. 4/5


5. Black Death: UK

Ok, so, I fell asleep during this one a little bit. It began at 11:50pm, so cut me some slack.

Anyway, it was still really good. The story centers around a town ravaged by the plague. A group of troublesome misfits is attempting to travel to a small town they've heard has not been attacked by the plague. They assume it is because some witchcraft is going on and they plan to kill any pagans they meet. When they get to the town, their thoughts are confirmed as they see a witch bring a girl back from the dead. Then there is a bunch of really realistic medieval torture (two horses tied to the arms and legs of a man running in opposite directions, you know, fun stuff) and a twist (which I love). I am pretty sure I only dozed off for a few minutes, so I have no problem rating it at a 4/5.


6. White on Rice: USA

Cute, cute, cute. This movie was the best way to end our film fest experience. It was funny, quirky, and just all around great. I love being in the theater when the whole place is laughing and smiling.

This is the story of Jimmy (pictured right) who is trying to get back on his feet after his divorce. He is living with his sister and driving her husband nuts, leading to endless giggles. I think I need to see this one again actually.

4.5/5

Movie Review: Bottle Shock

Oh you all know my feelings about Alan Rickman. Bottle Shock is essentially about a wine tasting in France that pitted French wine against California wine in 1976. The California wine won for both wine and red. More interesting to me was the struggle of the main California vineyard to stay alive, the family dynamics of the main characters, and finally the use of immigrant labor.

Perhaps my favorite quote, "If I had your privilege I wouldn't squander it." This is said to Chris Pine's character by a Mexican immigrant who's son has the audacity to make his own wine.

I give it a solid 4/5. It is a feel good happy ending with an epilogue. Steven Spurrier, Rickman, organized a rematch 30 years later, where he believed the French would redeem themselves, but instead California took the prize again. There is a love story of sorts running through it, but I wasn't too concerned by it. Yeah for classic rock music.

Movie Reviews!

I watched several indie films tonight after a fun filled day of consumerism. Seriously, I'm experimenting with liquid eyeliner...I'm either going to look awesome, like a raccoon, or end up blind. Should we poll?

Careless. So I maybe slightly in love with Colin Hanks. Seriously. Anyway I loved this movie. It is a romantic comedy about a finger, and I'm using the term romantic loosely. This guy, who works at a mystery bookstore because what else can he do with a Literature degree, finds a finger in his kitchen. He proceeds to speculate on how and why it got there focusing particularly on his neighbors who dislike him. The movie is a little bit of a boy becoming a man story, which I think is overdone, but with the mystery theater backdrop I was sold. Hanks' character is awkward and clever and loves books so naturally I'm in love. The awkwardness of his character is brilliant. The film was so well written full of great lines. It ends the way Breakfast at Tiffany's does; the book not the film. If you don't know what this means read the book.

Easy. After the first movie's ending I decided I need a more cheerful comedy. And what is more cheerful than slut shaming and promiscuous sex? Nothing. Except that is not what this film is about at all. Jamie is our heroine, and she keeps getting involved with the worst men possible until she meets to normal guys. Of course there is a series of random events where the guys and she take turns failing one another. I like the sadness of this film and the burden of commitment issues. The concept of sexual prowess is the background for this film but in fact Jamie is celibate for most of the film. The feel good ending brought my rating down a little. Additionally, I don't believe commitment issues can be solved so easily.

The Education of Shelby Knox. Yeah documentaries about kids, sex, and gays. In Texas no less. The film focuses less on Knox's quite to get comprehensive sex education in her high school and more on her coming into her politics and faith. A devote Christian girl comes to term with her pastor, friends, and family while she tries to convince the school board of the merits of sex education. Toward the end of the film she joins forces with the gay rights alliance. Both causes are unsuccessful, but the film isn't bad.

Movie Review: Daybreakers

Those of you who know me, know I have a fascination with crappy movies, make it a sci-fi or action movie, and I'm yours. So this evening, I watched the movie Daybreakers.

It get pure sass points for naming the vampire lead Edward, but it loses points for making him suffer from the same psychological deficiencies all lead vampires apparently suffer from: the inability to eat people. So essentially this movie has Buffy and Giles (had he once been a vampire) working with Edward/Angel/Knight Rider, who used to work for Umbrella Corp, fighting Umbrella Corp. Get all that?

Naturally, I enjoyed myself. Ethan Hawke plays Edward who is having a crisis of conscious about his job, which is to manufacture a safe blood substitute. He works for a large company looking for a blood substitute and still wants to farm people for the profits (capitalism, got to love it). Edward covers/hides some humans one night, and next thing he knows he's working with them on a cure. Of course, they have one. The remainder of the movie is trying to get the girl back...did I mention one of the humans is a hot girl?

I'm giving it a 4.2.

You have plans tonight.

Your plans are to go out and see Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Seriously, go see this movie.

For once, an indie movie does music placement right. Movies like Juno, Garden State, etc all seem to try too hard to tell you what music you should like if you want to be a cool indie rock gal or guy. In Scott Pilgrim all the bands in the movie are fake bands that are based on real bands. The band that Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) plays in is actually Beck. He sings and plays all the instruments for the band. Also, all the songs for one of the other bands in the movie (Crash and the Boys) were written by two members of Broken Social Scene, Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew. And my personal favorite, the band Clash at Demonhead was based on Metric and they recorded a song for the movie as well. I couldn't put my finger on why these bands were actually really good in the movie until my husband read me the wikipedia page in the car on the way home. Thank you internet phone.

Anyway, this movie was just very clever and well done. The main plot is that Scott is in love with a girl (I know, yeah yeah just like every Michael Cera movie) but there is a twist. She has a league of "evil exes" (7 to be exact) that Scott has to defeat in video game-esque fight sequences until they've all been destroyed. The fighting is awesome, the plot is fun and exciting and it has all kinds of great twists. (Side note to Kari: one of the exes is a vegan and he has super powers for being better than dairy and animal byproducts. It's hilarious.)

But really, please go see this movie.

5/5

Movie Review: Beautiful Girls

There is something those of you who know me already know: I love anything average. And tonight, I watched an average movie about average guys called Beautiful Girls. Timothy Hutton (who I love for no reason other than every character I've ever seen him play was drunk) goes home for his high school reunion (a reunion he and his friends don't actually go to) and meets up with his high school friends and together they all do self-reflection about their lives and relationships.

Everyone in this film is average, and average in a realistic way, not in the "we're trying to write about average people's lives way. There are moments that made me feel like I was invading the intimacy of friends. Then again this could all be me reading too much into this movie. This is probably true because the character I spent the film identifying with was not Hutton's. This is a direct irrational emotional response to some news I received this week. The dynamic between the guys is like going home again for the first time in a long time: friends are the same and somehow really different and conversations with everyone including family are really awkward.

The women in this movie have two functions: lovers and figures of wisdom. The lovers are as crazy as the gentlemen, worrying about their relationship and completely unhappy. The figures of wisdom constantly provide reasonable relationship and live advise, which always falls on deaf ears. It is particularly disturbing is that these guys as supposed to be in their late twenties, and they drink constantly, obsess about supermodels, get in bar fights, and drive trucks into cars to solve their problems. Really, this movie was made in the mid-nineties and more than a decade later nothing has changed. Of course, I liked the end where Matt Dillon's character talks about not being the man he wanted to be.

I give it a solid 3/5.

Julie and Julia and Me

I just finished watching Julie & Julia and I have to say, it really was quite inspiring. For those of you who haven't seen the movie (which I fully realize is probably just me) the main premise is as follows: Julie decides to begin a blog that will chronicle 365 days of cooking every recipe in Julia Child's book Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Her main reason for doing so is that she's in a rut and she's looking for a change and most importantly (to me anyway) she's never finished anything.

This is the part of the movie that I really can relate to. I wish I had the gumption to do something like this, but even as I was watching the movie I was thinking, "Oh, I could never do that recipe!" I still can't even imagine going through all 500+ recipes without skipping over any. That's some incredible gumption.

Right now, my schedule is wide open. I was supposed to be in class for a summer session right now, but it was canceled due to a lack of enrollment so currently, I waste away most of my days watching television or straightening up the house. And you know what? Last week, I decided to cook some homemade macaroni and cheese, which I've never done before and I found it so relaxing and the day went by so much faster than any of the other days last week. The recipe I was working with didn't call for any seasoning aside from a 1/4 tsp of salt and pepper, so I opted to throw in some paprika, rosemary, and oregano, and it actually wasn't half bad. Maybe there is something to a project like this.

I'm not saying I'm going to take on this project, this project is not mine, but I feel inspired to do something. Hm, let me get back to you on this.

Oh, as far as the movie? 4/5 Very cute, great acting.

Movie Review: The Last Airbender

I'm really surprised neither Cari or I have written about this film, The Last Airbender, in the past year or so. Granted, I'm more the science fiction nerd in our relationship. I don't want to skim over this film's controversy, and I'll try to link to articles about racism in casting at the bottom of this blog. I'm undecided as to whether whitewashed cast was intentional, and I will touch on that later, but it is something to be aware of especially in a children's film where the audience may not pick up on it.

I give this film 3/5. My brother-in-law and I went to see it when I was back in the Cleve...had to return to the homeland and lick my wounds with the news of Z's fleeing the northern coast, too. We're both big fans of the cartoon, and our end decision was the film looked amazing; M. Night Shyamalan is a brilliant director with special effects like whoa. Then again I like disappointment in my life; and some people hate the twists in his films. Which leads me and my brother-in-law to our area of concern: the twist. As of now, none, but Frank leans over at the end of the movie and says, "I'm going to be pissed if the third movie ends with Shyamalan reading these books to his kids." Funny man, my brother-in-law.

They cut out my favorite character who has a huge part later on, and according to interviews Shyamalan was running out of time and wanted to do her justice. This is problematic to me for another reason too: the character is a strong woman without special powers there are at least three more in the series, and some with large parts, but few have the impact on the development of the main four that Suki does. In my view Suki also transforms the way Sokka, a main character, appreciates women.

When push comes to shove all the characters in Avatar: the Last Airbender grow and transform, but Frank and I believe this cartoon was about Aang, Zuko, and Sokka. They evolve the most, but the women around them grow as well and become "great benders." This is a direct reference to the show/film, and probably makes little since if you are unfamiliar, but then again why read this far? Aang and Zuko find their destinies and save the world. Sokka overwhelming loses the most throughout the series.

Speaking of the ladies of Avatar. There is a special feature in the third box set specifically on women in the series only the benders, but still very interesting. The greatest bending masters in the series prove to be Azula, a fire bending prodigy, Toph, a Earth bending master who invents metal bending, and Katara, a water bender who learns blood bending. Unfortunately, these characters are featured more in the second and third seasons of the series, which means movies 2 and 3. We were given some hope for Katara in this first film.

In all the movie fell short for me because I like the show so much. As my love affair with the Harry Potter series, stories for kids that take on genocide, torture, racial, and gender relationships can be phenomenal tools for children. Shyalaman needs to step up his game, but I'm pretty hopeful for the series.

On that note: a lament on the film series. What happened to making one film? I love HP, but I feel like it was the first in many novel series to be turned into multi-picture film deals. Other examples: Narnia, the Last Airbender (though a cartoon), Twilight, and just about all comic book films. I guess I just want more from the film industry. And life with a few less remakes would be nice too.

Racism:

http://io9.com/5111680/avatar-casting-makes-fans-see-white

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37336714/ns/today-entertainment

http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/film_salon/2010/02/10/airbender_open2010

Film Fest Movies, 2010!

I should have made this post sooner, but I had a big scary exam on Thursday and it basically ate up my whole week (and my brain).

"Hipsters" is probably the most fun you can have in communist Russia. I would absolutely see that one again and Tim and I agree that it's probably one of the best one's we've seen at the Film Fest, ever. The contrasting colors of the gray, drab dress of the young communists and the hipsters was absolutely stunning, the songs were great and didn't make the movie seem to "musical-y", and the storyline was great. There were even some great moments where the whole theater was laughing.

All in all, I would give it a 4.5/5. It loses .5 because there is a really awkward scene where I had to look at the main character's boobs for too, too long.

"The Last Days of Emma Blank" took some very interesting turns that I didn't really see coming, but I didn't feel like I wasted my money seeing it or anything. It's kind of like if Beckett wrote a movie about a dysfunctional family, so it was obviously pretty great. The entire family is bending over backwards to serve Emma, who is close to death, when they find out there is no inheritance. The reactions of the characters was pretty great and I really don't want to ruin this one in case it shows up on Netflix. Definitely worth the watch.

3.5/5


"A Town Called Panic" was definitely my favorite of the three, though Hipsters put up an amazing fight. I love being in a theater when the entire place is laughing their heads off and "A Town Called Panic" succeeded at this. I think this would actually be a great movie to show in a French class in a high school because they use really simple French and it's kind of a kids film almost. Anyway, the animation was amazing and it was hilarious. Seek this one out by any means necessary. 5/5

Movie Review: Bright Star

Oh, how I'm in love with John Keats...

I enjoyed this film, Bright Star, after all I like epic love stories and poetry.  Ben Whishaw and Abbie Cornish did a good job as John Keats and Fanny Brawne.  I of course have a few issues with the amount of speculation put in the film about their friends and family, though realistically it is probably true.  

I would also like to point out that when John and Fanny were on the outs he took up with Isabella Jones, which was conveniently left out of the film.  The film also downplayed his poetry, which for me is what everything is about.  Part of what I like about their love story is that is was difficult.  Class was used to keep them apart and then illness.

I also, love that after story of Fanny Brawne; she mourned for six years.  That is intense by any standards.  Then six years later she married.  She bequeathed to her children the letters from Keats and told them that one day they'd be worth a large sum of money.  None of this was in the film of course...too human I suppose.  

I won't conclude with "Bright Star," but instead one of my favorites:

When I have fears that I may cease to be

Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain,

Before high-piled books, in charactery,

Hold like rich garners the full ripen's grain;

When I behold, upon the night's starr'd face,

Huge Cloudy symbols of a high romance,

And think that I may never live to trace

Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance; 

And when I feel, fair creature of an hour,

That I shall never look upon thee more,

Never have relish in the faery power

Of unreflecting love;--then on the shore

Of the wide world I stand alone, and think

Till love and fame to nothingness do sink.

The Lovely Bones: The Book vs. The Movie

Before I begin, if you plan to read the book or see the movie and you haven't yet, this post is going to be filled with spoilers and kind of ranty, so you may want to come back.

First of all, I loved the book. I thought it was extremely well written and completely captivating. I listened to the audio book at work over the last few days and have to admit, it was very difficult to hold back tears at my desk. The family's reaction to the death of their daughter and sister was absolutely heartbreaking. I was really looking forward to seeing how Lindsey's character acted in school after Susie was determined dead. I really found her to be an interesting character in the book, especially in the way she reacts to the news and how she acts out when people try and console her. Probably my favorite/most heartbreaking part of the novel was when the dad explains to Buckley through Monopoly that Susie is not coming back. Also, with how much time Sebold spends explaining how Susie was raped/murdered, I was expecting to have an awkward time at the theater with my mother when watching that scene, more on that in a second.

I must admit, I couldn't believe (serious spoiler) that they never find Susie's bones. I thought for sure when she comes back through Ruth's body she would say "Oh by the way, my bones are totally in the sink hole! Tell someone!" I understand that she was finally beginning to move on, but her family still hadn't at this point. Otherwise, I just really loved the book and I went to see the movie despite hearing bad things about it. Book: 4/5

Ok, I know movie makers cannot put everything from a book into the movie (see Harry Potter), but I had some real problems with things that were left out. First, they never show how Lindsey and Buckley deal with the reality of their sister's death, which I thought was some of the strongest writing to their character in the novel. Second, not only do they not show how Susie dies, they do not even explain it, allude to it, nothing. In fact, she tries to exit the bunker that Mr. Harvey created and it looks at first that she gets away. She runs down the street past Ruth and when she turns back and looks at Ruth, you realize that she is sort of translucent. Having read the book, I know what's going on, but I feel like the audience must be lost wondering, "Did she get away? What the heck is going on?" I don't necessarily think they should have shown a totally brutal rape scene or anything, but seriously, I can't wait to talk to a coworker of mine who hasn't read the book, and did not like the movie. Moving on, no one ages in the movie. It seems like only a year has gone by during the action of the film. Abigail does not cheat on Jack, she leaves before he even goes into the cornfield to kill Mr. Harvey and ends up in the hospital. Buckley never grows up, but Lindsey is shown pregnant at the end and it seems like she hasn't really aged any.

The strangest part of the book is obviously when Susie comes back through Ruth's body. It was an interesting place to take the book and I'm still not sure how I feel about it, but I am glad that she and Ray got to be together. Anyway, this part makes NO sense in the movie. They do not show Ruth in heaven giving lectures, so it makes no sense that they momentarily change places. It just seems like Ray hallucinates Susie when he's with Ruth.

Holly. So so many problems with Holly. First of all, she has an accent. The first thing Susie says in the book is that Holly has no accent because she had one on earth and does not want on in her heaven. C'mon! Also, Holly was not Fran, they are two different characters in the book and I understand budgets, etc, but they shouldn't have been the same character in the movie. I also really missed Mrs. Singh. I thought she was a great character in the book and was really looking forward to seeing her in the movie but she is shown once, and quickly. She does not even seem like a particularly engaging woman AND she's shown with her husband! He should be at work damnit.

And finally, Mr. Harvey. I thought he was very creepy and played extremely well in the movie, however, there was no back story to Mr. Harvey in the film. Why does he murder? The audience never knows. Furthermore, when he finally ditches the body, it is right after Lindsey finds his sketchbook, but in the novel, he is much more careful. He is the one who speaks to the police after Lindsey breaks into his house, not the Salmon family. He makes excuses and narrowly escapes. Also, Jack Salmon accuses a whole bunch of people of being suspicious in the movie while in the book Mr. Harvey is the only person he knows could have done it. The most disappointing part for me though was that they never explained why it is so wonderful that he was killed by an icicle. Susie says while Lindsey is away at smart camp that she always picked the icicle as her favorite murder weapon and that is not included in the movie at all! We see it hit Mr. Harvey but the audience does not even know the satisfaction they are missing.

Ok, I'm starting to seriously feel like a nerd so I'm going to end this post here. Movie: 3/5

Dear filmmakers,

Please stop trying to make Anne Hathaway look frumpy, no one is buying it.

I just watched The Devil Wears Prada this afternoon, it was really cute, but basically just made me wish I was thinner and richer than I am. Oh well. 3.5/5

I think I've neglected you long enough...

This has been one hell of a crazy summer. My husband (weird) got laid off in May, I decided to go back to school about a week before that, then we got married, went on a honeymoon, came back and I quit my job for something part-time and started school the week before last. Needless to say, I've got about a million things I would like to catch you all up on, but now there is no time! So, let's take care of the highlights:

The wedding was beautiful, easily the best day of my life, if anyone was wondering, but I'm sure no one was.

I've read a few novels since my last posts (which were regretfully not even as recent as May I realize). I recently finished Brave New World as part of my continuing effort to read all the books I should have read in high school and enjoyed it very much. I also finished American Psycho and just started The Wind Up Bird Chronicles by Haruki Murakami, which is already fantastic just 7 chapters in. I would give American Psycho a 4/5, it was a great story and seriously grossed me out. I think soon I'll re-watch the movie and write a double review. Brave New World gets a 4.5/5 from me. I liked it a lot, but I think I liked 1984 just a tiny bit better. Although I do feel that the themes of Brave New World were much more developed. Once I've read Fahrenheit 451 I will do an entry on all three I think.

I also watched a TON of movies... Mammoth is probably my favorite of the movies that I've seen recently. I really love Michelle Williams. This is Lukas Moodysson's first movie in English and you should go see it. 4.5/5. This is a great story about mothers and their daughters and the things they do for them to give them lives they couldn't have. He is an amazing story teller and if you like Mammoth, you should immediately see Show Me Love (or Fucking Amal, which is the Sweedish title) and Lilya 4-Ever.

Ok, that's all I've got for now. Hopefully I'll be back with more frequency and be able to speak with more depth about the billions of things I do in a week.

Movie Review: Teeth

This was an incredible movie. I'm still kind of shocked about how many times one person can be violated, but still it has a great twist at the end.

Teeth is a story of a girl who practices and preaches abstinence. You follow her through awkward adolescence, and see what happens when misinformation about sexuality is spread for example, "women are naturally modest" which is our heroine's excuse for schools to not use pictures when teaching about female genitalia. She wrestles with her purity pledge while most people around her are kind of pervy...really pervy.

The first time she is sexually assaulted (yes, this happens more than once) she discovers that she is special, and her vagina is mutated. It contains teeth like many mythological characters. Eventually, she becomes empowered by this, and takes control of her surroundings.

I give it a solid 4/5. It is creepy and sadistic in the right ways, but I don't know how I feel about the constant sexual assaults in the film...and no, our heroine isn't only on the receiving end of them.

Movie Review: Stripped

The film, Stripped, is a documentary about exotic dancing , which can be discerned from the title. I wasn't a particular fan of the film, but at the same time I didn't hate it. The film did a very good job of representing the real ramifications of stripping and the sex trade...because yes, strippers/dancers are part of the sex trade. The scenes where the women tried to rationalize what they were doing was particularly interesting. As was the scene where the creator, Jill Morley, of the film's roommate considers dancing one night. The roommate didn't want to do it, but struggled with coming up with a reason not to while surrounded by women who dance for a living. When the women got together to discuss dancing it felt like they were working on to come up with reasons for it to be ok. Often, they were pushing feminist ideals, but then would turn back.

The film discussed money and men by far more than sex. Many of the women demonized and were disgusted by the men they danced for leading into a discussion about the psychological issues many of them have. Also, many of the girls tried to get out of the industry, but were unsuccessful for one reason or another.

I give it a 2/5. The film felt like it was rushed when put together, and many of the scenes came from what appeared to be one or two interviews. The end was particularly sad when reading what had happened to most of the girls with a few bright lights.

Movie Review: Fat Girl

Sometimes I really don't think I'm cultured enough...I watched a documentary series which mentioned this film a half dozen times or so, and I though "hey Netflicks." Catherine Breillat is pushing the boundaries of film making in numerous ways, perhaps the most well known is her use of sex in films, and Fat Girl is no different.

The film, Fat Girl, is about sisters that much is certain, love and loss. To be more specific loss of virginity, and the expectations set by those involved. The older sister becomes involved with an older man who spends a great deal of time trying to sleep with her; she has lofty expectations about sex and love. However, the younger sister sees through him, but doesn't have these expectations going as far as suggesting sex with a stranger will save you the trouble and attachment issues from sleeping with someone you think you love only to be disappointed in the end.

Pretty progressive for a girl of 13; she is the voice of reason for her older sister through much of the film, yet she is riddled with insecurities stemming from issues with her weight and being the second born. The film takes a shocking turn; I literally never saw it coming in the end. Leaving you to ponder whether losing your virginity to someone who lies to you is better than a stranger or not...

The subject of rape is brought up in several way, and the view can't help but wrestle with the ramifications of these situations. Though the "boyfriend" keeps his promise not to force her, he still coerces her into sex. I found it interesting too that despite her love for him, she never trusted him.

I give it a 4/5. I really don't know what to make of the end. Worth a watch though. If you do watch this film pay close attention to the younger girl's hand motions; I found these to be very telling during the sex scenes.

Movie Review: Indie Sex Series

I watched three out of the four in this film series. The topics cover all the basics: Censored, Teens, Extremes, and Taboos. I didn't watch the one on taboos because you can't just stream it, and I didn't want to wait.

I watched Censored first. This was particularly interesting to me because the documentarian showed the origins of sex and the film industry including "stag films." "Stag films" are the predecessors of pornography. Those interviewed in the film explained that much of what we see in pornography today. The film then addresses the changes in the film industry, governmental regulations, and censorship. Governmental regulations resulted in films being censored where the writers and directors had to be more creative to get sexual scene across to their audience; a few such creative ways the directors did this was with a slap or cigarette. Then they discuss the self-regulation of the industry by themselves; this was a response the particularly experimental and crude films. The best example of this is the commercial success of films like American Pie giving way to the wildly popular Princess Diaries where sex is non-existent.

The film on Teens discusses the changes in how teen sexuality is portrayed on film. We travel from beach films to the film KIDS, which is a faux-documentary on young people. I've heard really god things about the film KIDS, but it was interesting to hear the reviews of fellow film makers who thought the film dances the line of child pornography. The Teens episode focus a lot on how teens are portrayed by media and there was a long discussion about child pornography, which of course I'm always a fan of hating on porn.

Extremes took on the public's fixation S&M and other fetishes. Also, films interest in these topics. Bondage and fetishes have become more mainstream in recent history, but only enough to make the terminology commonplace. People now know the definition of auto erotic asphyxiation, but people are reluctant to express interest other than a morbid fixation. But this film also took on the pushing of limits in the film industry. One great example is "unsimulated sex," which is actual sex between the actors during filming. The directors and actors specify how and why this isn't pornography. There was a long discussion about pornography and if/why "unsimulated sex" is interesting to the public.

I give these films 3/5. They were good, but became long after a while. Also, you can't watch them all in one sitting.