Golden Globes Announcement

The Hollywood Reporter has released a complete list of Golden Globe nominations over on their website .

50/50

Inspired by a true story about two best friends whose world is turned upside down when one develops cancer and given a 50% chance of surviving.
The movie is an inspiring story about the strength of the human spirit. It is in fact, incredibly well made and Joseph Gordon Levitt gives another top performance.
50/50's slogan is "It takes a pair to beat the odds". Despite Seth Rogan's reputation for comedy, 50/50 certainly is not one. It's heartbreaking and emotional even while the characters try to find humor and hope in their darkest time.
Having said that, I'm actually surprised to see that 50/50 has a Golden Globe nomination for best picture in the Comedy category.

Having personally lost a loved one to cancer, this movie completely tore me up and I spent a large part of the movie trying not to cry my eyes out. Definitely worth the watch, but I'm not sure I'll be able to sit through it again.

The Help

 

 Based on the book by Kathryn Stockett

It has been so long since I felt invested in a character-driven film, I was afraid I'd never see one again.
OK, not entirely true, but I was certainly taken by surprise by this movie. Not preachy, and not as saturated with estrogen as you would think. That's right fellas; watching this movie will not merit having your man card revoked. However, with such strong female characters, it is certainly aimed toward a female audience. A bit of a risky move for Hollywood, but we need more stories like this one.
The Help takes place in Jackson, Mississippi, in the early 1960's, at the height of "separate but equal", just before the civil rights movement really exploded. We follow our lead, Skeeter (Emma Stone) as she fights to expose the truth about African American life in such trying times. Many suburban white families employed black maids to cook, clean, and raise their children. Most of them were treated like second rate humans. Using the inside toilet (as opposed to their "equal but separate" toilet built in the back yard) would be grounds for firing.

What really sets this movie rolling is Skeeter's ambition to become a writer. She begs a few of the maids to speak with her on what it's like to work for white people and shenanigans ensue. Despite the way they've been treated, these ladies still have a strong sense of pride and a wicked sense of humor. Revenge is served in all forms, including some "special" pies. But the ultimate revenge is the tell-all book written by Skeeter with the stories from all the maids in Jackson, detailing their hardships and secret triumphs in a world of oppression.

 Honestly, what this movie does well is bringing humor to such a dark time period. It's both fun and thought-provoking while being visually true to the time period. The story is very well written and all of the actors give strong performances. I couldn't help but absolutely loathe Hilly (played by Bryce Dallas Howard) and love her at the same time. She is a perfect antagonist.
The only thing missing was some strong male characters.

The Help is in theaters now.

HIATUS!?

I have to apologize for recklessly abandoning my film blog. The hiatus is ending soon with a review on The Help starring Emma Stone. Please check back soon for updates!

Stranger Tides

The Pirates are back and attempting another summer of breaking box office records.

Sadly I'm missing opening day but I couldn't help but throw my two cents out there before I actually see the movie.

First... why on earth are they making a FOURTH "Pirates" movie? Ok, reason number 1- money. People love the romanticized idea of pirates and they love Jack Sparrow. Johnny Depp loves being Jack Sparrow. Give the people what they want and bing bang boom, Disney is up to their neck in pirate gold. (Please excuse my corny choice of words).

Reason number 2- well... I'm not sure there is much of a reason other than making money. But hey, in this economy it is pretty damn important. Entertaining people is just a happy bi-product.

I haven't met a single person who hates Pirates of the Caribbean. I can understand if you're not a rabid fan, but if you just flat out hate it, you have no soul. Honestly. It's called "suspension of disbelieve". Let it happen, you'll like it.

Having said all that, I'm going to have to back-pedal a little and admit that the "Pirates" sequels left something to be desired. I fell in love with the first movie. It made me want to get into the film business because [successful] epic adventure-comedy movies are rare. "Dead Man's Chest" comes along and the fan girl inside of me wanted to squeal like a frenzied Twilight fan who just grabbed a handful of Robert Pattinson's hair, but the rational side of me was worried. Disney sequels have a reputation of being horrible. To my surprise, "Dead Man's Chest" was actually fun and Geoffrey Rush's return as Barbossa had me downright giddy. But it all fell apart with "At World's End". The story became convoluted, and to this day I'm not sure I fully understand the film. Also- how did Will and Elizabeth NOT end up together? This is Disney for pete's sakes! Ok, technically they did end up together... under the condition that they could only see each other once every ten years. ONCE EVERY TEN YEARS. Elizabeth might as well have ended up with Jack.

I digress.

I had been hesitant about the idea of "Pirates" sequels since they were announced, but after seeing "At World's End" I wished with every bone in my body that another movie would be made just to make up for the disappointment I felt. And by golly, here it is! When I first heard the announcement I had the same worried pit in my stomach I had when "Dead Man's Chest" was announced, especially since some key crew members were changing (namely, the director). But I saw the trailer and was relieved. Actually, I was excited and I couldn't believe it. It was as if the sequel I had been hoping for had finally been made. Bonus: Geoffrey Rush decided to rejoin the cast as well! Can't go wrong with Depp & Rush.

Admittedly, movie trailers can be deceiving, but I'm going to step out on a limb and say "Stranger Tides" is going to be a big hit. We'll see if my opinion changes once I actually see the movie.

Please give me a couple of days to get a full review up. I might need to see the movie twice before giving my opinion. "Pirates of the Caribbean" (Curse of the Black Pearl) is one of my all time favorite movies and as you can probably tell, I am way too involved to give a half-assed review.

From Cannes to Chicago: Midnight in Paris

Woody Allen is still at it. His newest romantic comedy, Midnight in Paris, is premiering (Official Selection) at this year’s Cannes International Film Festival and will make its way to select theaters in the U.S. starting May 20^th.

            Starring Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams, Midnight in Paris is a romantic comedy about a young couple, engaged to be married, whose experiences in Paris change their lives. The story turns dark and seductive when Gil (Wilson) meets a sexy young Parisian who lures him farther and farther away from his fiancé Inez (McAdams). As is typical for Woody Allen’s films, the audience can expect to witness plenty of conflict as the couple struggles through issues of fidelity, and their own conflicting personal interests. However, with Owen Wilson as the star, it is sure to have plenty of laughs and a charming appeal.

            Midnight in Paris has been called “Woody Allen’s valentine to the City of Light”. Certainly there is no better location for a romantic comedy than the most romantic city in the world. Allen says he fell in love with the city of Paris while filming What’s New Pussycat, his debut film as an actor and writer. He idealizes the city much like his character Gil does in “Midnight”. In fact, Allen says he very much regrets not buying an apartment there and splitting his time between New York and Paris. In some ways, Midnight in Paris, is a reflection of Woody Allen. Like Allen was so many years ago, Gil is an aspiring writer who romanticizes his first visit to Paris.

            Woody Allen has a reputation for making romantic comedies with serious, dark undertones woven throughout the story. This time around Allen says Midnight in Paris is more upbeat than many of his other films. To watch the trailer, or learn even more about the film, check out: http://www.sonyclassics.com/midnightinparis/home.html

            Midnight in Paris will be in select theaters in New York and Los Angeles starting May 20^th. You can see it here in Chicago at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema starting Friday, May 27^th. Check out landmarktheatres.com for tickets and show times.

HappyThankYouMorePlease

Directed, written by, and starring Joshua Radnor (who many know from TV’s How I Met Your Mother), HappyThankYouMorePlease could easily be the feel good movie of the summer. At its core, it is a coming of age story and one that so many can relate to. Everyone wants to be loved; everyone is trying to find happiness.

            The primary storyline follows Sam Wexler (Radnor) who is a failure in many ways. On a particularly bad day, he witnesses a young boy get separated from his family. Sam makes it his personal mission to help the boy, beginning a complicated but rewarding friendship. Aside from Sam, the film follows six New Yorkers whose lives are all intertwined. Each one of them is in the midst of a struggle to find themselves and discover happiness. Annie struggles with commitment because of her issues with her appearance. Charlie and Mary Catherine’s relationship is put to the test when one of them wants to move across the country.

Of course the premise is your typical urban hipster “dramedy”, but the cast is charming and relatable. It’s a refreshing take on a tried and true formula. Cynics beware: you may actually find yourself pulling for these characters in one way or another. The ending may be predictable, but it doesn’t fail to give that warm and fuzzy feeling.

             HappyThankYouMorePlease is heartfelt and honest. It definitely showcases the directing and writing talent of Joshua Radnor. After making the rounds at all the major film festivals in 2010, and making a huge splash at Sundance, HappyThankYouMorePlease finally had its theatrical release earlier this year in March. Look for the DVD release on June 14, 2011. Visit http://www.happythankyoumoreplease.com to pre-order or add to your Netflix line-up. If you liked Little Miss Sunshine, chances are you will enjoy this movie. It is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.