Up in the Air

I would love to write a one word review of this movie. That review would look a lot like this: meh.

I sat and enjoyed this film while watching it. I left the theatre and immediately forgot why. The three leads did a great job and did indeed make it look easy. This film really didn't do anything wrong per se. I just find it hard to find many things that it did at all. The story is basic enough. George's character is happy in his life and likes his philosophy. Some women come along and make him feel some things. His life is shook around a bit. He reaches his ultimate goal and doesn't react the way he expected. He changes. That is the movie. Quite lovely and predictable. Some of the most beautiful moments were just shuffled around and moved passed too quickly to be enjoyed. I just feel like the film was a little too long and not quite as tight as it could have been. I don't really see how this movie is a contender in this year's 'Best Motion Picture' category. I certainly wouldn't call this a bad movie. There was just too little meat there for me. I did not really expect myself writing such a meh review of this highly reviewed film. I guess of all the other nominees this year, the one's that don't mean something important have at least really beautiful stories that make me love or hate life profoundly (for the most part). This movie didn't mean anything and didn't make me feel anything. If that is what it was going for, I guess it won. Maybe someday George will be a serious film that doesn't automatically get nominations just because he is a part of it.

Where the Wild Things Are

I had very high expectations for this movie and it surely did meet every single one. I was in love with everything about this film from the start. I will first mention the soundtrack, because it was perfectly done. Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs did a heck of a job scoring this movie. As far as the acting goes, young Max Records makes the perfect Max for this story. I have seen a lot of movies in my time with a lot of young actors not really cutting it, but not here. Max delivered a winning performance in my book. Just the perfect amount of adorable, vulnerable, courageous, crazy, wild, sincere, and witty. Catherine Keener shined in her scenes as always. The voice acting was top notch as well. Claire Fisher from 'Six Feet Under' (aka Lauren Ambrose) was awesome. Pretty much every voice actor was pretty fantastic. Catherine O'Hara got to be funny and that wins. Visually speaking, this movie outshines many I have seen in a very long time. There is not a wasted camera angle or scene. Every shot is full of beauty or emotion or both. Set designers need to win awards for this movie. Everything felt so real and so fantastical all at once. Spike Jonze might be my new current hero for this work of art. I was really blown away by the way this story was told on film. There could not have been a better adaptation. Beyond the movie, this story is phenomenal. I feel weird talking about how this story made me think and feel, because it is a story that is much bigger than this movie and it doesn't seem like the appropriate forum to discuss the book. All I can say is that the story's heart and feelings and fears and courage is told very very well through this film. It is a very evocative telling and it is an instant favorite of mine.

Were the World Mine

This film was recommended to me by Netflix a little while ago and I noticed its title elsewhere in my life recently as well. So, I thought I would give it a view. It is not very well polished and I know there are plenty of things that critics and cynics could pick apart about the acting, directing, editing, writing, etc., but I thought it was a very beautiful little movie. I must admit that I have never read 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' nor do I know much about the story. I now feel that this is a tragedy in my life. The plot of the film revolves around a young gay man in an all boys school whose life becomes swept up in the fantasy world of the high school's impending production of the aforementioned Shakespearean play. I really appreciated many things about this tender story. I really enjoy it when parents overcome their own struggles to fight for their children. That device always endears a movie to me. The singing was another shining element in the film. Overall, I would be willing to recommend this little movie to those looking for a tender musical with quite low production value, but very high sweetness value. Now I just need to ready 'AMSN'sD' someday.

Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince

Snape: "You can't use my spells against me. I'm the half blood prince." Me: "Wait. What? Is that supposed to mean something?" People who wrote HP6 the movie: "Nope."

So I got to see the newest Harry Potter film last night. All in all I highly enjoyed myself. I thought this was Daniel Radcliffe at the top of his game. I could not help but think back to his performance in 'Extras' every once in a while. This made me happy. He got the chance to be a normal person in this film. Maybe he did not act like Harry Potter should, but I think he was pretty great as a character. Emma was also great as was the rest of the cast. I mean, for what they were, they were good performances. Having not read the books I did find myself confused by some plot devices in the flim. Luckily, they are not all necessary for just enjoying the movie. I feel bad for people who love the books, because they expect so much from the movies and I am convinced it is impossible to deliver all they desire. So, I feel like this film was highly successful (as many previous have been) in trapping the die-hard fans into seeing it as well as making it accessible to people with lives . ;) jk. I am not sure what else there is to say. This is the one HP movie that would not pain me to watch multiple times. It does give me some interest in reading the books to see all the tiny and vast plot holes I am missing. Maybe someday I will do some HP reading.

Oh yeah! Dumbledore died.

My Sister's Keeper

I am not sure how many words I have about this movie. I was moved. I didn't cry. I came close to almost feeling like I might a few times tho. I felt mislead by the trailer, which actually pleases me a great deal. I appreciated the acting. The father was pretty amazing. I liked the brother, but I don't think I fully understood his character. Joan was absolutely amazing as was Alec. The strong points held up for me. I enjoyed the story. The film making choices were a little shaky for my tastes. I wish they would have committed to the style and given everyone a voice-over or none at all. Some shots confused me, but maybe I missed something. The family dynamic was a little odd, but also oddly believable. I love it when people have fights and get over it and love each other. That is what being a family/friends is about to me. Being able to hash it out and yell and confront, knowing that you love each other and you can get past it and it will be alright. That scene did not seem contrived or unrealistic to me. Might have been the most real moment I have seen in film in a long time. I have not read the book, so I can't say how it is different. I can't judge the decisions made to change the story. Just based on the movie, I thought the story was strong for a film. It definitely gets me thinking about death and how someday I may end.