Heights

How did I not know about this movie? Why is it so freaking good? I stumbled upon this film while checking out facts about Rufus Wainwright online (so I don't fall behind on my obsessive knowledge of the man). Rufus has a small role in this brilliantly cast film about the city I love. 'Heights' takes place over the course of 24 hours telling the story of several interconnected individuals surviving in NYC. Glenn Close rocks it as Diana Lee with the help of the following individuals:

Elizabeth Banks - Isabel Lee
James Marsden - Jonathan Kestler
Jesse Bradford - Alec Lochka
John Light - Peter Cole
Rufus Wainwright - Jeremy
Eric Bogosian - Henry
George Segal - Rabbi Mendel
Andrew Howard - Ian
Isabella Rossellini - Liz
Matthew Davis - Mark
Michael Murphy - Jesse
Chandler Williams - Juliard Macbeth
Bess Wohl - Juilliard Lady Macbeth

Each of these individuals simply blew me away. There is nothing too dramatic, inspirational, life-altering, or profound about this movie, except in its simple and perfect way of telling a not too interesting story. The film just holds up in every possible way. The writing is strong and the plot keeps things moving. You know enough and are left guessing in all the right ways for all the right reasons. I could not call the ending happy, but it is very right. This movie just fits well. Its pieces fit well together. The actors fit into their roles. The drama fits well with the comedy. The theme fits well in the world. The whole thing fits me, as well. Set in NYC, starring Rufus Wainwright, about photographers, actors, and artists, featuring The Scottish Play; it just fits. I am so happy that I found this film. I may have talked it up too much, but I do hope you check it out. It is very simple, but very beautiful and just a nice movie.

Gigantic

Crap. I have so little to say about this movie I just painfully sat through. Here is a very appropriate review I just found on netflix.com:

"This movie was going along great...until the end when it just came to a halt, leaving a few things still unexplained. The story is just a complete mess of random occurences and scenarios that seem to serve little or no purpose (as much as I like Zack Galifianakis, what the hell was the point of his character's random attacks? They were the most interesting part of the movie, and they seemed to just leave that whole conflict unresolved). Also, I've seen Paul Dano do some great acting, so why did he only have one facial expression the entire movie? It's a just a pointless movie that wastes a lot of great talent."


The only thing I could add is that Zooey Deschanel was acceptable in this film.

I got nothing.

Someday I may watch this again and get it.

How To Lose Friends and Alienate People

If you are looking to laugh at Simon Pegg falling, spitting, being beaten up, and generally making a fool of himself, this is the movie for you. I certainly laughed and found some enjoyment with the plot. Few of the actors really committed to their parts, but luckily it was brief and funny. Simon plays a character looking to find a balance between selling out and being a "real celebrity journalist" (if such a thing could exist). He moves to NY, meets a girl, meets another girl, conflicts with Gillian Anderson, gets second girl and then realizes first girl was the one for him. It is every story ever told (especially the Gillian Anderson bit). Kirsten Dunst vomits a few times. That is about all she brings to the film. I recognized her funniest line from an episode of 'Home Improvement.' There were a few redeeming appearances by Katherine Parkinson and Chris O'Dowd, both from 'The IT Crowd,' a BBC series a high recommend for some great laughs. Overall, nothing special with this movie, but if you are looking for a brief vehicle for a few laughs and some funny brits, check it out. Someday Simon Pegg might be cast as something other than a loveable idiot.