Friends With Benefits

2011 - 1.7/5

***SPOILER ALERT***

Plot: C
This movie is a romantic comedy, so lets face it, the plot is typical and predictable, but I thought I’d give it a shot. I thought that poking fun at other romantic comedies was kind of hypocritical. The first half was funnier and more entertaining than the second half. I didn’t notice during the trailer that it was set in New York, so it was nice seeing Grand Central Station, Central Park and Time Square.

The movie starts out with Jamie (Mila Kunis) and Dylan (Justin Timberlake) characters going through a break up (which I thought was pretty funny). Jamie becomes ‘emotionally damaged’ and Dylan becomes ‘emotionally unavailable’. It wasn’t really explained very much beyond the break ups.

Here’s the exact plot if you didn’t already figure it out:
Jamie meets Dylan. They decide to be friends with benefits (on the iPad Bible App). Things are going great. Hurtful things are said. There’s a falling out. They make up in a cliché way.

I would have to say that my favourite part was when Jamie was at the airport about to pick Dylan up; when she was on the luggage carousel trying to grab her makeshift sign written in lipstick. I thought it was funny and fresh.

The storyline had good flow, but when something new was being introduced, it was a bit jumpy. Situations that came up (for example: Dylan’s stutters, fear of heights, the fathers Alzheimer, ect.) were underwritten and not well incorporated.

Lastly, the flash mob bit at the very end in GCS was SO predictable. It was foreshadowed when we saw it the first time in Time Square.

I thought it was funny that they created a romantic comedy within this movie that included Jason Segel and Rashida Jones.

Script: B
The dialogue was very modern. It was more entertaining in the first half when Jamie and Dylan were actually friends with benefits, compared to the second half in which they did start having feelings for each other. The screenplay was the best part of this movie, but there wasn’t a particular line of conversation that really stood out.

Acting: C+
Mila’s acting was good, but she really didn’t have much to work with.

Justin seems out of place at times and some parts seemed very forced. He was okay, but I thought his best role to date was The Social Network. The character itself was all over the place: he was a nerdy (a Harry Potter fan), a bit feminine (people thinking he’s gay), smart (an up-and-coming blogger), and good looking.

Woody Harrelson as Tommy was good. I think he is a solid actor. I wish he had more screen time.

Jamie’s mom, Lorna (Patricia Clarkson) played her role very well, but the character was annoying.

I really didn’t see any point of having Shaun White in the movie.

Richard Jenkins as Dylan’s dad was great in his role, but I though that this character was kind of useless and it could have been cut out entirely. It seemed as if they only added this character to add a bit of emotion to the plot and so he could say something like “don’t ever let the one you love get away” and to ‘teach’ Dylan to be more accepting of his dads Alzheimer (the pants).

Jenna Elfman did a good job with her role as Annie, Dylan’s sister. Their sibling relationship did seem genuine, and I liked how Dylan called her ‘Annie Bananie’.

I really hope that I wasn’t the only person that thought that all the scenes with Dylan’s nephew Sam were boring as hell and unnecessary. The mishaps with his magic tricks (fire and coffee leak) weren’t even funny.

Overall: C
An IMDB reviewer stated, “Friends with benefit has nothing new or better to offer”. I defiantly agree; it’s defiantly not laugh out loud funny, barley got a few chuckles; for the most part, I had a grin on my face. I liked how it had a contemporary setting and used lingo and slang that we hear today. Mila and Justin were a good pair, the rest of the cast was good too; the actual characters though were a bit dull. The plot was average, and the subplots weren’t well developed.

Winnie the Pooh

2011 - 3.8/5

Plot: B

I thought the storyline with the ‘Backson’ was funny, but the plot in its entirety was a bit scattered. Still entertaining. Little disappointment that it was so short.

Speaking of short, I did enjoy the Loch Ness monster short as well!

Script: A

The script was my favourite aspect of the movie.

Owl: First, ISSUE a reward.

Tigger: If you’re gonna pounce, you’ve got to have some bounce.

Piglet: I can not knot.

Rabbit: Not knot?

Pooh: Who’s there?

Characters:

Although I never really watched Winnie the Pooh on TV, I always thought that each of the characters have their own mental disorder. Eeyore has depression; Piglet has anxiety; Tigger has ADHD; Rabbit has OCD; Pooh has an eating disorder (and addiction*); Owl is narcissistic; Kanga and Roo are co-dependent; Christopher has schizophrenia.

(*just to be politically correct, I don’t consider addiction as a mental disorder)

I didn’t realize that Pooh bossed Piglet around so much. Every character had a similar amount of screen time, expect for Kanga and Roo.

Voice Over Acting:

As mentioned earlier, I never really watched the TV show when I was younger, but it seemed as if Pooh and Tigger’s voices sounded different than I remembered, but then again, its not like I’m the best person to judge that.

Animation:

Thankfully it wasn’t computer animated – it was hand drawn. And I’m happy it wasn’t 3D.

Overall: 
I really didn’t know what to expect going into this, except that Christopher Robin was missing. I loved all the songs, and they were all at a good length. I also liked how some parts took place in the storybook, and the characters would jump to the other pages. The chalk drawings when the ‘Backson’ was being introduced was fun to watch.

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I saw the trailer for Puss In Boots (2011), and although I don't plan on watching it, I did want to mention that I did like the following line:

Humpty Alexander Dumpty: You know what they do to eggs in prison? I'll tell you this: it ain't over-easy!

Requiem For A Dream

2000 – 5/5

JUICE BY TAPPY, JUICE BY TAPPY, WEEEEEEEEE GOTTA WINNER!!!

Plot: A+
The storyline for this movie is pretty simple. There are 4 people and each is consumed with their own drug addiction. This movie highlights the terrifying reality of drug addiction and how it can destroy people’s lives in different ways.

Script: A+

This movie was very well written. Probably one of my favorite screenplays! Some lines I really liked:

Marion: Anybody wanna waste some time?

Tyrone: All I’m saying is we should take a little taste so we know how much to cut. It’s business!

Doctor: I see you’re a little over weight.
Sara Goldfarb: A little? I have 50 pounds I’m willing to donate.

Sara Goldfarb: Purple in the morning, blue in the afternoon, orange in the evening and green at night. Just like that. One, two, three, four.

Harry: Well, uh, I’m sort of a distributor like for a big importer.

Harry: Hey ma, you on uppers?
Sara Goldfarb: I told you I’m going to a doctor.
Harry: What does he give you? Does he give you pills?
Sara Goldfarb: Course he gives me pills. He’s a doctor.

Sara Goldfarb: How come you know more about medicine than a doctor?

Acting: A+
Harry (Jared Leto) is a junky, as is his friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans), his girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly), and eventually his mother Sara Goldfarb (Ellen Burstyn). As the movie goes on, each one of them becomes more dependent on drugs, which leads them to their inevitable fates (amputation, prison, prostitution, and insanity).

I really enjoyed everyone’s acting and more so the characters themselves. My favorite character in this movie was Sara Goldfarb and Ellen Burstyn did an amazing job portraying this naïve and vulnerable lady who thinks she’s taking ‘diet pills’ that were prescribed by her doctor. I also really liked Christopher McDonald’s character Tappy Tibbons; JUICE BY TAPPY!

Random:
The cinematography in this movie was amazing and the editing was probably the most noticeable part of this movie! I read on IMDB that this movie had more than 2,000 cuts, while most movies have 600-700 cuts. I liked the split screens, close ups, fast-forwards and the variety of camera angles. To some extent I think the subject matter of this movie deserved a highly stylized form of editing; it portrays how frantic and chaotic an addiction can be.

The music (score/ soundtrack/ sound effects) was SO good! It was perfectly paired with whatever was on screen and it added the right amount of tension and intensity to the overall mood.

The makeup, hair and outfits were very well done. Each actor looked the part and they were all believable in their roles.

Overall: A+
I want to mention is that although it was the most disturbing movie I’ve ever seen, I could not look away. With that being said, it is not a movie I can watch over and over again – perhaps once every couple of years…oh, and I’m scared shitless of my fridge now! I think this movie will leave a lasting impression on the viewer, but I don’t think this movie is for everyone.

Life Is Beautiful

1997 – 5/5
aka La Vita è bella

This is a foreign film therefore it is subtitled; however that should not deter you from seeing it. I recommend watching it in Italian with English subtitles rather than watching it dubbed – trust me! Also, keep in mind that this movie isn’t supposed to be historically accurate. Lastly, be prepared to laugh and cry.

***SPOILER ALERT***

Plot: A+
“This is a simple story. But not an easy one to tell” – Giosué Orefice (narrating as an adult).

This story takes place in the late 1930s with WWII looming in the near future. Guido, a charming Italian Jew makes his way into a city his uncle lives with hopes of opening a bookstore. His first day there he bumps into a lady named Dora whom he calls ‘Principessa’. Their paths cross a few more times and they eventually get married. The story fast-forwards 5 years later when they have a very cute son named Giosué and they’re living in the midst of WWII.

Because Guido and Giosué are Jews, they are put on a train by the Nazi’s and are sent to a concentration camp along with Guido’s uncle Eliseo. Dora gets wind of this and she demands to be put on the train as well. Guido tries to shield Giosué from the harsh reality of what’s really going on. To keep Giosué’s spirits up, he comes up with a clever explanation that they’re taking a trip and they’re going to be participating in a game in which the players need to earn 1000 points to get the 1st place prize: a real tank (Giosué’s favorite toy). This is the most heartbreaking movie ever and it has a great blend of tragedy and comedy.

Script: A
The dialogue is funny and heartwarming. Some lines I liked (which will make sense if you’ve seen the movie) are:

Guido: I wonder if we’ll ever bump into each other standing up.

Guido: I can only hear out of this ear.

Giosué Orefice: It’s raining. I’ll come down with a terrible fever.

Guido (pretending to translate): The game starts now. You have to score one thousand points. If you do that, you take home a tank with a big gun. Each day we will announce the scores from that loudspeaker. The one who has the fewest points will have to wear a sign that says "Jackass" on his back. There are three ways to lose points. One, turning into a big crybaby. Two, telling us you want to see your mommy. Three, saying you’re hungry and want something to eat.

And my absolute favorite:
Guido: Buongiorno, Principessa!

Acting: A
I thought the kid that played Giosué was adorable, and he did a great job! He may not have been the best child actor out there, but I’d rather have an actual 5 year old playing the part, rather than an older kid trying to pass off as a younger kid any day.

Roberto Benigni did an amazing job with his role. His goofy look added to Guido’s humorous personality. Nicoletta Braschi (as Dora) was really good too!

Overall: A
The first half is a light-hearted and pleasant comedy while the second half is about the hardships Guido faces to protect his son in the concentration camp. It’s a tragically beautiful movie and by the end, you will agree that life truly is beautiful.

Airborne

1993 – 5/5

This movie is defiantly one of my all-time favorites, so by default, it gets a perfect score. Although I am giving this 5 out of 5, I do realize that this movie doesn’t necessarily have the best plot, script or acting, which is why each topic isn’t getting a ‘higher grade’.

Watching this movie is the equivalent of comfort food for me. It came out when I was 8 and to this day, I still LOVE it. Rollerblading was the craze back in the 1990s and this movie was a perfect fit then. If you plan on watching this movie, I suggest that you watch with the mind-set that it’s 1993. You need to be in a 1993 frame-of-mind to truly appreciate how awesome this movie is – otherwise you will probably think it’s silly and cheesy.

***SPOILER ALERT***

Plot: B
Mitchell Goosen is a laid back surfer/rollerblader from California. His parents get a grant to conduct a study in Australia, but because Mitchell can’t miss 6 months of school, he gets to stay in Cincinnati with his quirky uncle and aunt and his unpopular cousin Wiley. He quickly makes enemies with the school tough-guy Jack and his friends that don’t take kindly to Mitchell’s ‘pretty boy surfer’ persona. If that wasn’t bad enough, he also manages to get on Blaine and the ‘preps’ (Jack’s rival) bad side too! As much as Mitchell tries to avoid any confrontations, its always just around the corner. It’s nice to see a movie that emphasizes that fighting isn’t a solution. Mitchell goes through a few ups and downs with Wiley, Nikki (the girl he likes), Jack and Blaine. Eventually all the disputes between Mitchell, Jack and Blaine are to be settled by a dangerous skating race down a series of hills called ‘The Devils Backbone’ in which the rules are: “there are no rules; anything goes”.

Script: B
The dialogue wasn’t the strongest point of this movie, however, there were several different lines that were meaningful or funny. Some worth mentioning are:

Mitchell: C’mon Wiley, you hockey man, you hockey warrior.
Wiley: Hockey Nintendo!

Mitchell: You get so busy fighting over waves, that you never get a chance to enjoy the ocean.

Snake: I think California here could use a shot.
Jack: All right. Gear up surfer.

Gloria: I don’t know teachers that are that boring.

Mitchell: You don’t have to fight the shark to fight for the wave.

Acting: B+
I think the acting was good, but the majority of characters weren’t well developed, but then again, for a movie like this, I really didn’t think it was necessary. This movie showcased a young Seth Green and Jack Black when they hadn’t really established their acting careers.

Shane McDermott, the main character (Mitchell Goosen) did a good job with the role – he walked the walk and talked the talk. It was pretty obvious there was a body double for the surfing scenes but it seemed as if he did his own rollerblading stunts.

Seth Green as Wiley was where most of the comedy in this movie came from. His fashion show was really funny and the song choice Too Sexy was a great fit!

This was Jack Black’s film debut and up until now, every role he’s had hasn’t really changed from the character he plays in this movie. He too had a good comedic performance – “Did he just call you a piece of underwear?”.

Aside from the actors already mentioned, it was pretty cool to see the movie that launched several acting/film careers: Chris Conrad, Jacob Vargas, Britney Powell, ect.

Overall: B
One of my favorite old school movies. There were a few cracks and flaws in the storyline, but it’s easy to overlook them in lieu of being entertained. I thought it had a good soundtrack that suited each scene! The sound effects during the final race fit really well and I enjoyed it :P

One thing I haven’t mentioned yet which is a very noteworthy point is the skating itself! AMAZING!!! All the stunts were done really well: jumping off ramps, going down stairs, the half pipe, going up a wall, more stairs and the awesome street race at the end (dodging cars, the steep and winding roads)! The camera angles were really well done during the final race too!

An IMDB reviewer sums everything up by saying “Like a million movies before it, Airborne does nothing special, or even original. But it does have fun along the way, and the actors do pretty well with what limited story they had. It also sends a positive message that restraint can be cool. And that maybe fighting is not always the answer”.