Wednesday, June 30, 2010

The Last Station (2009)



Recently, I had the opportunity to see this film based on the famous and gifted writer, Leo Tolstoy. For me, this film was a very interesting one to watch.

Since I'm a history buff, I do enjoy watching period pieces and history type movies. This one is no exception.

Basically, this film tells the story of the last days of Leo Tolstoy (played by Christopher Plummer). At the end of his life, it seems Tolstoy has grown to be a very bitter man - wanting to be away from society and find peace within himself.

The main conflict in the story lies with his wife, Sophia (played by Helen Mirren) who does not seem to understand Tolstoy's views upon life and upon humankind. It shows a very love and hate relationship between the two.

Then enters, Vladimir Chertkov (played by Paul Giamatti), the leader of Tolstoy's devoted disciples. And, Chertkov is intent on serving the people with Tolstoy's money.

So, you begin to see the conflict here. On one hand, you have Chertkov who is tries to influence Tolstoy to hand over his estate and all his money to his cause (aka the people) when he dies. And, on the other hand you have Tolstoy's wife, Sophia, who is intent on having her family taken care of when Tolstoy passes away who constantly tries to suade Tolstoy to abandon his cause and support his family by leaving them with his fortune. So, the big issue at hand is a matter of Tolstoy's will when he dies - who gets what, when and where.

Quite honestly, it was a bid sad to see all the quarreling in this film about Tolstoy's will. In a way, to me it seemed a bit selfish and kind of hypocritical. Chertkov's argument for Tolstoy's fortune was that it would be for the people, but would it really be used for that cause? And, Sophia's argument was that Tolstoy had a duty to take care of his family when he left this world. It seemed Tolstoy was left to be in quite a dilemma.

To add to the story, enter Valentin Bulgakov (played by James McAvoy) who gains a new position as a private secretary for Tolstoy.

Bulgakov is young and very naive about the world. Though, he possesses a sense of innocence and goodness that reminded Tolstoy how he felt and how things were when he was a young man.

The dynamic between the old and the young and the views portrayed between generations is very nicely depicted - it gives you a sense of how sometimes you begin to see things in a different perspective as you grow older.

Overall, I think this film was descent. Since I enjoy period pieces and history type movies, I could be a bit biased. Though, this film is not for everyone. If you don't really like these types of movies, it may not be for you.

For me, I especially enjoy autobiographical films - going into it I was interested in the subject matter. That is probably why I enjoyed the movie.

(Note: Now, that I've watched the film I'm interested in reading some of Tolstoy's works. If anyone out there has read any of them, I would be interested in hearing your thoughts).

If you're in the mood for a history type of film and enjoy period pieces, I think this one is worth taking a look.

Film Gurl's 15 Minute Rule: PASS

Happy movie watching!

p.s. Feel free to leave comments on any post either here and/or my Facebook Page. Comments are always welcome, thanks for reading!

Happy movie watching!



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Monday, June 28, 2010

Indie Film Short - The Slumdog Price is Right

Since it's Indie Movie Monday (#IndieMM), I thought I'd share with you this indie short film, "The Slumdog Price is Right," based on the movie. Enjoy!

(Note: If you missed it, feel free to check out my review on the film. Thanks for reading!)

(p.s. If you have a project(s) you'd like me to check out (i.e. fan trailer, short, spoof, animation, etc), feel free to contact me here or through my Facebook Page. I'm always on the lookout for fresh stuff from emerging filmmakers!)



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Thursday, June 24, 2010

It's Complicated (2009)



"Divorced with benefits."

- It's Complicated


Since I was in a comedy type of mood, I decided to check out this movie. Honestly, I did not have high expectations for it - I thought it might have just been an ok kind of film. Boy, was I wrong - it was hilarious!

So, we have the main character Jane (played by Meryl Streep) who is a self reliant and divorced business woman (she owns a successful bakery).

(Note: I'm not sure if they casted her in this role because of her performance in this film - there's just so much enthusiasm involved when seeing Meryl Streep on the big screen getting excited about cooking. I'm thinking maybe it's a passion of hers in real life).

And, then there's her ex-husband Jake (played by Alec Baldwin) who is at the present time married to another woman. Though, it seems Jake wants Jane back. And, of course through a slew of encounters - they get together. As the title of the film goes, it gets a bit complicated.

So, it seems as if Jane is having an affair with her ex-husband Jake. Pretty complicated, eh?

And, of course Jane struggles with the thought that she is doing something wrong with Jake. It then becomes a game of cat and mouse - Jane tries to pull away as Jake keeps trying to reel her back in. That is until Adam (played by Steve Martin), Jane's architect, comes along.

Now, Adam seems to be the complete opposite of Jake - he is very soft spoken and basically an all around nice guy. Jake, on the other hand, is a bit of a "bad boy." So, Adam takes a liking to Jane and Jane seems to reciprocate. Though, it's Jake who then becomes a bit jealous and constantly attempts to step in and pry Adam apart from Jane.

Then, it all becomes a question for Jane - what does she want? Does she want to stay with her ex-husband Jake and continue this affair behind the back of his current wife? Or, does Jane want to start over and explore the possibilities with someone new like Adam? What does Jane want?

On some levels, I think this is a very relatable film. Basically, it's about choice - having the choice to either stay in the past or move forward and start over again. How many times has this type of dilemma come up in our own lives? I'm sure we can all think of a few moments like these.

Throughout the movie, I see a different side of Meryl Streep - the good side. It's weird because when I remember Meryl Streep on film the characters she portrays that always come up in my mind are the ones where she plays a more serious and stern role like her performance in this film.

(Note: Coincidentally, I had just seen Meryl Streep in this movie. And, yes she did play the stern type of character that reminds me of her).

Probably the last film I saw Meryl Streep in where she played a more happy, go lucky type of role was in this film. It's just a little bit weird for me to see her smiling and laughing all the time. I'm used to seeing her in a very serious role.

This film had some really good moments - I laughed throughout the movie. Though I'm not going to say it's as funny as this film, I definitely was entertained.

As for the end, it was a bit unexpected. I thought the film was going to go in a slightly different direction, so the ending surprised me a bit. But, in a good way.

Overall, I enjoyed the film. It made for a good comedy type movie - it had a lot of funny moments and I was entertained throughout.

(Note: For those who have seen the film, the scene with the laptop was classic. That was such a crazy scene, I couldn't believe that scene -it made me laugh so much!)

If you're in the mood for a comedy type of film, I do recommend this one.

Film Gurl's 15 Minute Rule: PASS

Happy movie watching!

p.s. Feel free to leave comments on any post either here and/or my Facebook Page. Comments are always welcome, thanks for reading!



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Monday, June 21, 2010

Indie Film Short - Batman Fan Film City of Scars

Since it's Indie Movie Monday (#IndieMM), I thought I'd share with you this indie short film, "Batman Fan Film City of Scars," first called to my attention by my tweep Bobby Bless (thank you!) Check it out!

"When the Joker escapes from Arkham and murders the parents of a young boy, Batman recalls the pain of losing his own parents as a child. He is pushed past his limits to the point where his focus becomes revenge on all who stand in his way, including many of Gotham’s underworld. Finally, Batman is forced to look at the psychological profile of his own mind and accept the consequences of his life to find resolve."

(p.s. If you have a project(s) you'd like me to check out (i.e. fan trailer, short, spoof, animation, etc), feel free to contact me here or through my Facebook Page. I'm always on the lookout for fresh stuff from emerging filmmakers!)



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Sunday, June 20, 2010

Unthinkable (2009)



"Right and wrong no longer exist."

-Unthinkable


Going into this film, I was not prepared to see the realism depicted - it really caught me off guard. Let's just this is a major "in your face" type of movie.

Basically, it's about an American Muslim, Yousef (played by Michael Sheen), who claims to have planted nuclear bombs in three U.S. cities in an attempt to request demands from the U.S. in exchange for the location of the bombs. And, it is Henry Harold Humpries' aka 'H' (played by Samuel L. Jackson), a former U.S. Chief Interrogation agent, job to interrogate and force Yousef to reveal the locations of the bombs by any means necessary.

And, by "any means necessary" - it is just that. Though his tactics may be brutal and shocking, they usually yield results. Yet, this case was by far one of his most difficult ones. And, it required a partner - Agent Helen Brody (played by Carrie-Anne Moss).

Now, Brody was the exact opposite of 'H'. While 'H' was a very bottom line and harsh individual willing to do what it takes to get the job done, Brody was a very kind and caring person - she thought the way to handle matters like these could be resolved civilly.

But, there was one factor against them - time. They had no time to build rapport and handle this matter through the proper legal channels. If they did not find the location of the bombs, millions of people would die - including them.

This was quite a dilemma. And, it put both 'H' and Agent Brody in a tough spot. They had no choice but to succeed and to do what it takes to reveal the locations of the three bombs.

This film had a lot of shock value - some of the scenes were very realistic. There were a lot of "in your face" type moments. It was truly shocking to see the brutality and interrogation techniques used in an attempt to obtain the information needed.

Though, this film really became a question of right and wrong. What was right? And, what was wrong?

Was it wrong to use harsh interrogation techniques in an attempt to save millions of American lives? Or, was it right?

And, who is to decide what is right and what is wrong? Is it us as human beings? Or, us as Americans? If so, what gives us the right?

I think this movie has a lot of good points - there's a very important message here about what is right and what is wrong and the justifications we give as humans as well as Americans for the acts we commit. It's very interesting to see because it then becomes a matter of perspective.

There's a point in the film where Agent Brody is accusing 'H' that his tactics are wrong only to find that she is only seeing things from one perspective - the lines of right and wrong start to blur and she no longer knows what is right and what is wrong. I don't want to ruin it for you, but let's just say her perspective starts to change at this turning point in the movie.

As for the reasoning of Yousef's actions and his intent to hurt the American people if his demands are not met, his justification is a very interesting one - he makes a very truthful statement. And, this statement can really be taken to heart - it's very real what he says and almost to the point where we should ask ourselves the question, "What gives us the right?"

Overall, I really enjoyed this film. It had a really good storyline. Both Samuel L. Jackson and Carrie-Anne Moss played very good roles in the film.

(Note: I don't want to ruin it for you, but let's just say Samuel L. Jackson played another B.M.F. in the movie. As he says in the film, "I'm your worst nightmare").

Apart from the storyline, this movie had a lot of twists and turns. There were a few moments in the film that really caught me off guard - I thought it was going in another direction only to be taken by surprise (especially near the end). From beginning to end, it definitely was worth it.

If you're in the mood for a thriller type of movie, I highly recommend this one.

Film Gurl's 15 Minute Rule: PASS

Happy movie watching!

p.s. Feel free to leave comments on any post either here and/or my Facebook Page. Comments are always welcome, thanks for reading!



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Friday, June 18, 2010

Movie Preview: Resident Evil: Afterlife



With summer in the air, there's going to be a lot of action type films coming out. I'm really looking forward to seeing this film based on the popular video game.

According to Wikipedia:

"Resident Evil: Afterlife is an upcoming 3D science fiction action horror film written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, and starring Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Wentworth Miller, Kim Coates, Spencer Locke, Boris Kodjoe and Shawn Roberts. It is the fourth installment in a series of film adaptations based on Capcom's survival horror video game series Resident Evil. It is also the first film in the series to be released in 3D. In the film Alice search and rescue remaining survivors in Los Angeles of the T-virus outbreak, who team up against Albert Wesker, the head of the Umbrella Corporation."

Source Link

Thought I'd share this upcoming film with you, check it out!

p.s. If you've joined my Facebook Page already, I just wanted to say "thanks" for your support. If you know anyone else who may have an interest in film and movies, feel free to send them over. Thanks!



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Wednesday, June 16, 2010

From Paris With Love (2010)



Since I was in the mood to see an action type of film, I decided to check out this film. I'm glad I did - I was not disappointed.

Basically, this film is about a regular guy James Reese (played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers) whose sole desire is to become a special operation field agent. He is willing to do whatever it takes to make his dream job.

In the beginning, Reese goes through a series of mini missions as part of his initiation into the secret society of special operation field agents. The mini missions seem really easy and miniscule in nature, he is wanting more. And, then his dream comes true - one last mission in order to gain his dream job.

During this last mission, he meets his future partner special agent Charlie Wax (played by John Travolta). Now, Charlie is not your typical guy - he's a B.M.F.

(Note: I won't spell out BMF on this blog. For those who are not familiar with this term, I'll give you a hint. Think Samuel L. Jackson in this film. If still baffled, here's a reference link.

Reese and Wax are definitely a match made in heaven - they are complete opposites. It was definitely entertaining to watch them interact together - there were quite a number of funny and entertaining moments.

(Note: One of my favorite lines by Wax (John Travolta) in the film, "Oh, have you met my wife?" A very entertaining moment!)

Though, Wax shows Reese the reality of being a special field agent - it's not all glitz and glamour. There's a lot more involved than Reese thought. He has to wonder, "Did I sign up for this?"

This film started out a bit slow. Though, there was a turning point in the movie that really got me interested. From there, it was action all the way - it was definitely worth the wait.

(Note: I don't want to ruin it for you, but let's just say the turning point was a bit predictable. Though, not entirely - there was still an element of mystery that kept me wanting to watch more).

Regarding the action in the film, it was exhilarating. I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride the whole way through - there was definitely a lot of adrenalin in the air.

Overall, I enjoyed the movie very much. The action alone was worth it. As for the ending, I felt it gave a sense of closure - I definitely felt like it was a good, entertaining movie.

If you're in the mood for an action type film, I do recommend this one.

Film Gurl's 15 Minute Rule: PASS

Happy movie watching!

p.s. Feel free to leave comments on any post either here and/or my Facebook Page. Comments are always welcome, thanks for reading!



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Monday, June 14, 2010

Indie Documentary Film - The Reinactors

Since it's Indie Movie Monday (#IndieMM), I thought I'd share with you this indie documentary film, "The Reinactors." Check it out!

"A hilarious and oddly moving look at the exploits of celebrity look-a-likes and film character performers on Hollywood boulevard over the span of a year. These street characters have big dreams of breaking into the big-time as they struggle to make ends meet."

Note: For more info on the film, check out the website. Thanks for reading!

(p.s. If you have a project(s) you'd like me to check out (i.e. fan trailer, short, spoof, animation, etc), feel free to contact me here or through my Facebook Page. I'm always on the lookout for fresh stuff from emerging filmmakers!)



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Friday, June 11, 2010

Movie Preview: Predators



With summer in the air, there's going to be a lot of action type films coming out. I'm really looking forward to seeing this film produced by Robert Rodriguez.

According to Wikipedia:

"Predators is an upcoming 2010 science fiction, action and horror film directed by Nimród Antal, and starring Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Laurence Fishburne, Danny Trejo and Derek Mears. The film is a sequel to Predator (1987) and Predator 2 (1990). Producer Robert Rodriguez stated that he named the film "Predators" in relation to how the second film in the Alien franchise was called Aliens.[2] The title Predators is intended to have a double meaning, in that it refers to both the film's alien creatures, as well as the group of humans who are going against them."

Source Link

Thought I'd share this upcoming film with you, check it out!

p.s. If you've joined my Facebook Page already, I just wanted to say "thanks" for your support. If you know anyone else who may have an interest in film and movies, feel free to send them over. Thanks!



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Wednesday, June 9, 2010

The Thirteenth Floor (1999)



"I think therefore I am."

- Descartes


Since I was in a sci-fi mood, I decided to check this film out. To say the least, it was definitely an interesting film.

Basically, it's a movie about identity. Sometimes we may think we know who we are only to find out what we thought we knew was all a lie. One day, we wake up from our trance and really see our lives and the world we live in for what it really is.

And, sometimes when we know the truth we don't like what we see. Sometimes we can't handle the truth.

This film makes no exception to that statement. There are some who continue to accept their fate, continue to live and accept the way things are. And, then there are others who refuse to accept what cards are dealt to them - they fight back in an attempt to create the life they want, the life they thought they had - not the life they actually have.

During the beginning of the film, as the audience you think you know the whole story. Everything starts to come together to set the tone and storyline - it seems simple enough.

However, there's a turning point in the movie where things change - this part of the film really baffled my mind. I don't want to ruin it for you, but let's just say this movie definitely took me for a ride - the twist is the cherry on top that makes this film really mind blowing. (literally!)

(Note: This film is comparable to "The Matrix" in nature - it deals with a lot of the same concepts).

There were a lot of parts in the movie that really kept me guessing - I wanted to see more. And, when I thought I knew what would happen something else would fall into place - it was unpredictable.

Overall, I really enjoyed the film. It had a lot of twists and turns which is a definite plus in my book. And, since I enjoy psychological type of films this one really took me for a mind trip.

If you're in the mood for a sci-fi type of movie, I definitely recommend this one.

Film Gurl's 15 Minute Rule: PASS

Happy movie watching!

p.s. Feel free to leave comments on any post either here and/or my Facebook Page. Comments are always welcome, thanks for reading!



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Monday, June 7, 2010

Indie Web Series - Film School: The Series

Since it's Indie Movie Monday (#IndieMM), I thought I'd share with you this new web series, "Film School: The Series," brought to you by my tweep Jeremy Hyler. (See this link for for his prior film short submission here). Check it out!

Note: For more info on the project, check out the website. Thanks for reading!

(p.s. If you have a project(s) you'd like me to check out (i.e. fan trailer, short, spoof, animation, etc), feel free to contact me here or through my Facebook Page. I'm always on the lookout for fresh stuff from emerging filmmakers!)



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Sunday, June 6, 2010

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)



"Everything changes with time."

- Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time


Since I was in the mood for a good action type movie, I decided to check out this film based on the video game after reading Action Flick Chick's review (my fellow Filmgirl Force friend). I was not disappointed.

Going into the film, I had a feeling this one would be good. Rarely do Disney films disappoint me. And, I usually enjoy Jerry Bruckheimer produced films. This one was no exception.

The film had a great story to tell - it was full of twists and turns. I have to admit, there were quite a few unexpected surprises regarding the storyline which I really enjoyed - there were quite a number of unexpected moments.

(Note: For those that saw the film, one of my favorite quotes was "A true king considers the advice of counsel but always follows his heart").

I think Jake Gyllenhaal did a great job in portraying the main character, Dastan (aka The Prince of Persia). Personally, I've always enjoyed watching him on the big screen - I think he's a very talented actor.

Though, I found it interesting that he played such a different role from those that he usually portrays. Usually, I find him to portray the more smart, quiet, reserved type of character such as in this film. So, it was very interesting to see him play the more strong (physically as well as mentally) heroic type of character - he portrayed the role of Dastan quite well.

I also enjoyed the character of Princess Tamina (played by Gemma Arterton). She played a very strong female figure (mentally as well as physically) in the movie. I enjoyed her witful banter with Dastan very much - I think the two were very entertaining to see together on the big screen.

Apart from the story and the acting, what I really enjoyed about the film was the way it really played true to the video game. It felt like a big adventure and there were a lot of cool action scenes and of course, lots of jumping.

Regarding the action scenes, they were staged quite well. In a way, I felt that I was right there in battle - it all seemed like a video game full of strategy and action type scenes. There were some really great action scenes and stunts - it all played out very well to make a good action type movie.

(Note: For the fans of the video game, I think you'll be very pleased with the depiction of the film and how it stayed true to the game itself).

Overall, I really enjoyed the movie. The storyline, the acting and the intensity of the acton scenes really made it a good solid film - it was very enjoyable to watch.

If you're in the mood for an action type film with a lot of adventure, I definitely recommend this one.

Film Gurl's 15 Minute Rule: PASS

Happy movie watching!

(Note: For another perspective on the movie, check out the following reviews from my tweeps and fellow Filmgirl Force friends:

Action Flick Chick - Review Link
Zen B. - Review Link

p.s. Feel free to leave comments on any post either here and/or my Facebook Page. Comments are always welcome, thanks for reading!



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Friday, June 4, 2010

Movie Preview: Inception



Since I'm a big fan of psychological thriller type movies, I've been really looking forward to this film directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

According to Wikipedia:

"Inception is scheduled to be released in both conventional and IMAX theaters on July 16, 2010."

Source Link

Thought I'd share this upcoming film with you, check it out!



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Wednesday, June 2, 2010

The Road (2009)



"In a moment, the world changed forever."

- The Road


Going into this film based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same name, I had heard really good things about it. So, I decided to check it out.

When I first saw the trailer, it really looked more like an action type movie - it looked like another interesting survival type of film. Now that I've seen it, I would say the trailer is very well done and put together - it really captured my attention.

Though, the film itself really was more of a drama type of movie to me. It was a bit slow - it went back and forth between drama type scenes and actions scenes. Though, I would say the majority of the film was in the drama category.

From the trailer, it looks like a linear type of movie - just dealing with the present. However, the film actually goes back and forth from the past to the present and vice versa. I didn't really expect this kind of format from viewing the trailer.

Regarding the action scenes, some of them were quite shocking - I definitely was not prepared for some of them. I don't want to spoil it for you but let's just say some of the scenes were inhumane in nature.

Basically, the story of the film involves the main character, "The Man" (played by Viggo Mortenson) and his son (played by Kodi-Smit McPhee) as they travel in an effort to survive.

(Note: Also, Charlize Theron plays "The Wife" - she plays more of a minor role in the film).

Along the journey, you find out more about the main characters - their past and struggles. And, you also find out how they got into this situation in the first place. Though, the "how" is not described in much detail.

I think this film has a good story - it definitely had its moments. Though, I feel it just wasn't executed well - it could have been done better.

Instead of an action type of film, it ended up being more of a drama type movie. The majority of the film was filled with drama type scenes - there were very few action scenes.

Overall, this film just didn't do it for me - it felt too slow. I think it could have been done better if there were more action type of scenes - it had a good story. Though, the fact that it dragged for me was a bit frustrating - it needed more momentum.

Personally, I can't really recommend this film - it was more frustrating to watch than enjoyable. If you've been contemplating seeing this one, I'd say its best to pass on it.

Film Gurl's 15 Minute Rule: FAIL

(Note: For all the fans of the film, these are just my thoughts - it just didn't do it for me. Though, I am interested in hearing about the book. For those who have read the book, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts. Thanks for reading!)



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