I Love You, Man

2009 - 4.8/5

Plot: A+
Peter (Paul Rudd) proposes to his girlfriend of under a year Zooey (Rashida Jones). He realizes that all of his friends have always been females and that he’s never really had any male friends. He goes on man-dates to find a best man for his wedding. Enter Sydney Fife (Jason Segel). Defiantly an original plot!

Script: A+
I LOVED the screenplay! It was soooo funny!
Here are some of my favorites:

Peter’s Dad- My son is a gay man and I embrace his lifestyle.
Robbie- It’s true, dad loves the gays; I actually made him an honorary homo last month.

Zooey- Do you do it that high when you do it?
Peter- Well, in real life, I do it low. But air bass works best up here.

Peter- Did you know that the best night I've had in the last 5 years is a night that Zooey and I split a bottle of wine, we made a summer salad and watched "Chocolat" together?
Sydney- You mean "Chocolate"?
Peter- Chocolat.
Sydney- Chocolate with Johnny Depp.
Peter- Chocolat.
Sydney- You're not fucking French Pete, it's called "Chocolate".

Tevin- Why are you slapping me?
Peter- Because I wanted to cause you some physical pain, but I have never actually hit anybody in the face. It freaks me out. And I didn’t really know what to do. Tevin, stay the fuck away from my listing.

Random things that were said that were pure awesomeness:
Peter- He farted in my open house.
Peter- You call me back whenever you get a mo. A moment.
Peter- You nicknamed me Pistol, and I just called you Joban.
Peter- Totes McGotes!
Peter- Why does everything I do sound like a leprechaun?

And my FAVOURITE:
Peter- I slap da bass big time!

Acting: A+
Paul Rudd has always been solid in any movie he’s been in. He is such a versatile actor! One of my favorite actors!
Jason Segel is a pretty good actor too! I loved him in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, (which PR had a small role). The awkwardness between Peter and Sydney was so authentic – they make a great pair!
Rashida Jones and Paul Rudd make such a good on-screen couple! They were perfect together and she did an awesome job as Zooey.
Everybody else acted his or her parts very well too! Good cameos as well!

Overall: A+
HILARIOUS! I got sooo many laughs. One of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen! Paul Rudd + Jason Segel did such a good job portraying their characters! Loved every minute of it… RETURN THE FAVOR!!!

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest

2010 - 4/5

Plot: A
It wasn’t until half way through the movie that I realized that this movie is nothing like the first (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo), but then again, it’s not supposed to be; it is however, a continuation of the second (The Girl Who Played With Fire).
Just like the first and second, it was very suspenseful. Great storyline and it’s nice that Lisbeth has people in her life (albeit, very few of them) that actually have her back, but she’s also such a strong and tough chick that has done a great job getting through all the bullshit she’s had to endure!

Script: A-
It seemed as if there was a lot more talking in this movie compared to the other two; but at the same time, it also seemed as if Lisbeth didn’t talk as much as she did in the other two movies.

Acting/Characters: A
There are a lot of different characters, so at times it does get hard trying to keep up with the names and faces.
It’s no surprise that Noomi Repace is amazing. Again, everyone else is good as well.

Cinematography/Editing: A
Very well put together. The second and third movies in this trilogy don’t have the awesome transitions between scenes like the first one, but that one did have a different director, nevertheless, the editing and shots were done well.

Overall: A
“The first was a murder mystery, the second a conspiracy thriller and this third film is a courtroom thriller” (IMDB reviewer).
The entire trilogy is worth watching! Now that I’ve watched all the movies, the only thing left for me to do is to read the books! (A shout-out to Sara for getting those for me!).

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

2008 - 4/5

Plot: A-
Peter gets dumped by his famous girlfriend of 5 years, Sarah Marshall. After some convincing of his half brother Brian, Peter goes on a vacation to Hawaii only to find that Sarah Marshall is staying at the same hotel with her new (also famous) boyfriend, Aldous Snow. The storyline is engaging because it’s about something people can sympathize with – a break up.

Script: A+ (***SPOILER ALERT***)
Segel wrote a very clever and hilarious screenplay. So many memorable lines!

I love it when even the little things (?) that are said are so funny, for example:
Peter – Now I have the freshest cereal.

Peter – Stop pulling my face towards your face.

Chuck – When life gives you lemons, just say 'Fuck the lemons' and bail.

Although, pretty much everything that was said was really funny, my favourite conversation was between Peter and Rachel (when they first meet):

Peter – Did she see me?
Rachel – Ya.
Peter – Is she coming over here?
Rachel – Yup.
Peter – I wish I wasn’t wearing this fucking shirt.
Rachel – Why don’t you try to unbutton it!
[Peter unbuttons the top button]
Rachel – Button it back up.

My favourite conversation between Matthew and Aldous was:

Matthew: I have a question for you real quick. What did you think of my demo? Did you get it?
Aldous: I was gonna listen to that, but then, um, I just carried on living my life.

Acting: A
I hadn’t really seen Jason Segel in anything else, but he was really good in this movie and he kept getting better and better as it went on.
I never really knew who Kristen Bell was but I liked her acting and her character.
I think this was the first feature film I’ve seen Mila Kunis in, and I think she stepped up to the plate.
Paul Rudd as Chuck was really funny! – It was easy to tell that Segel and Rudd made a good pair; case in point, I Love You, Man that stars both of them.
Russell Brand didn’t have a huge role in this movie. I’ve never been a fan of his, but he was bearable in small doses here and there.
Jonah Hill had a few funny lines, but his character wasn’t that great.
Bill Hader as Peter’s half brother Brian was really funny too!

Soundtrack: A
Dracula musicals are AWESOME! What makes it even better is that Segel had written it when he was 21.
The other songs were great too, but the Dracula musical was very original, so that stood out the most for me.

Overall: A
Peter’s honest reactions and emotions of going through the break up is something people can connect to. I was pretty much laughing throughout the entire movie! A great cast + extremely funny script = an awesome movie!
Highly recommended!

Black Swan

2010 - 4/5

Plot: A-
I thought the plot was original and more so how it examined the behind-the-scenes (sort of) of professional ballet. This psychological thriller showcased the nitty-gritty, dark aspect of professional ballet. An IMDB reviewer said “Black Swan is an examination of obsession. Obsession for beauty, fame, and above all, perfection”.

Script: B-
My friend noted that this movie didn't really need a 'great script' - I agree; however my most liked lines were mainly things that Lily said; I wasn’t expecting any funny parts, but there were a few times I laughed; for example, my favourite conversation was between Lilly and Nina:

***SPOILER ALERT***

Nina: You put something in my drink.
Lily: Yeah.
Nina: And then you just took off in the morning?
Lily: In the morning?
Nina: Yeah, you slept over.
Lily: Um, no. Unless your name is Tom and you got a dick.
Nina: But we.
Lily: But we what, Nina?
[pauses]
Lily: Wait, did you have some sort of lezzy wet dream about me?
Nina: [whispers] Stop it.
Lily: Oh my God? Oh my God! You did! You fantasized about me!
Nina: Shut up!
Lily: [gasps] Was I good?

Acting: A+
Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis did a wicked job! Everybody else was fine and suited their roles.

Cinematography: B
Camera work was good. When it first started, a lot of the camera angles were Nina’s point of view, or following Nina – it got to be a bit much, but it didn’t continue a whole lot, so it was okay. The one point of view shot that I really liked was when Nina was spinning, so the camera spun around in a circle, froze on Thomas and spun again (that was very well done).
Hallucinations were done well.

Overall: A-
As for the director Darren Aronofsky, this movie would be the 4th movie of his I’ve seen; Requiem For A Dream (loved it), The Fountain (hated it) and The Wrestler (liked it) – including Black Swan, I’m 3 for 4!

Wall Street: Money Never Dies

2010 - 2/5

Plot / Script: C-
Nothing memorable. Kind of on the dull side. There was a lot of fast talk that didn’t seem to get any where.

Acting: C
I only decided to watch this because I like Michael Douglas; Shia Labeouf is a decent actor, but he seemed too young for this role.

Overall: C
The only part I liked was when Gordon got out of jail and he gets his personal belongings back, and his cell phone is the huge brick.
Just felt as if I was waiting for something to happen, but nothing really did; when the twist did come around, I saw it from a mile away.
I’ve always wanted to see the first one, and I still do.

The Fighter

2010 - 2/5

Plot: C
Based on true events; personally, not something I was very interested in. Moved at a slow pace and the emotional highs and lows weren’t that engaging.

Script: C
Again, nothing special; my favourite line was:
“He did not just off the fucking couch. If he did, I’m going to buy a couch like that”

Acting: C
I would say that Christian Bale stood out the most; he always gets really into his roles, and this time it was no different – good portrayal of his character Dicky.
Mark Walhberg was meh as Miky.
“Annoying mother, a bunch of ugly sisters that just seem to lurk about the family house” (IMDB reviewer)

Overall: C
It never really drew me in.

A-Team

2010 - 1/5
For what it was and what I expected it to be, it delivered – clearly I had low expectations.

Likes
-It was filmed in Vancouver, BC.
-How some of the action sequences were explained as they were being pulled off.
-Bradley Cooper with his shirt off.

Dislikes
-The cigar thing was overdone; same with the fear of flying.
-Script was nothing outstanding (I wasn’t listening to what was being said 95% of the time).
-Ending was too CGI for my liking (the shipping containers looked like Lego’s at one point).

The Town

2010 - 4.3/5

***SPOILER ALERT***

Plot: B+
Doug MacRay (Affleck) and his crew rob a bank and take the bank manager (Rebecca Hall) hostage for a short while. Once they let her go, they find out that she lives a few blocks away from them. In order to find out how much information she knows and has told the police, Doug decides to befriend her and eventually, he ends up falling for her; in the mean while, the crew has to avoid being caught by the FBI. Doug also wants to get out of the ‘business’ but too many people rely on him and won’t let him out.

Script: A+
I would have to say that this movie had the best script for 2010. The Boston accent was well done by all the actors (not that I really know what it sounds like, but I’m just assuming).

Some of my favourite lines were:

Doug: I like to have a good cry at the nail salon.
Doug: You have a card. No one says you have to play it right away
Stephen MacRay: I didn’t think you’d carry it like a fucking disease.
Stephen MacRay: I didn’t look for her because there was nothing to find.
James: You grew up right here! Same rules that I did!
James: If we get jammed up, we're holding court on the street.
James: Yeah, these guards like to test you, though. They wanna get hurt for ten dollars an hour, don't get in the way.

Acting: A
The people that stood out for me the most were Ben Affleck and Jeremy Renner.
Ben Affleck has always been a solid actor (at least in roles similar to this one; I’m not talking about Gigli here). He also had a great body!
Although S.W.A.T. was the only other movie I’ve seen Renner in, it’s obvious that he’s grown as an actor since then. He defiantly deserves the Academy Award nomination for Actor in a Supporting Role.

Overall: A
I truly believe that this movie went unnoticed in regards to the Academy Award nomination; it deserved more nominations (best picture & directing). It’s very suspenseful and dramatic, and it has a lot of action and some awesome car chases. The good setting and great shots make for wonderful cinematography.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My moms' review of this movie:
it was exciting and it had a few different genres in it (drama, action, suspense).
she liked the emotions of Ben Affleck's character, and what he did for the girl.
it was good. it kept her on the edge of the seat waiting to see what happened next.