Love Story

This tragic and heartbreakingly beautiful love story directed by Arthur Hiller tells a tale as old as time. Harvard law student, Oliver Barratt IV (Ryan O’Neal), whom comes from an affluent family unexpectedly meets Jenny Calavari (Ali Macgraw). Their story may be cliché but the way the two play it is what makes the story so lovable. Oliver obviously comes from money, even though his father cut him off, leaving him all by himself, after dating and eventually marrying Jenny – because she comes from a much  lower class. Jenny is just a poor bakers daughter, studying music at Radcliffe. The story only makes the couple grow closer together and their spark is what draws us in. The blissfully happy couple meets with tragedy when Jenny is diagnosed with incurable cancer. After her death, the film ends with Oliver Barrett alone, again.

The film makes commentary on class struggles, personal identity, and religion through the couples story. Ali Macgraw whos spunk and subtle charm lends to an interesting and almost perfectly clashing character to Ryan O’Neal who is every girls dream. The supporting roles of Ray Milland and John Marley, who are two completely different father figures are spectacular and give the story the element of not just class struggles but also homey appeal the story needs. Hillers subtle direction and brilliant casting is what won this movie so many awards, and they were all definitely deserved.

Copenhagen

“Copenhagen”(Mark Raso) is a strangely unique, yet, captivating indie film set in the stunning city of Copenhagen, Denmark. The Movie is centered around the lost, narcissistic, and rude Will (Gethin Anthony) and his Journey to find his grandfather. Over the course of the movie Will meets the adventurous Effy (Frederikke Dahl Hansen) who takes on the task of helping Will find his Grandfather and fall in love with Copenhagen just as Will’s father had. Will and Effy grow closer as Will realizes that Effy is just who he has been looking for, but Effy has a secret that may threaten their relationship.

“Copenhagen” Is beautifully and simplistically written, with characters that seamlessly and realistically portray the variation in human emotions. The actors create vivid characters that one can’t help but love and connect to. The movie would not be as beautiful, however, without the help of Copenhagen’s breathtaking architecture and the film’s electrifying soundtrack that is packed with catchy indie songs that successfully support the film’s artful mood. The film takes the audience on a tour of the old city as well as a journey of self discovery, and leaves the story and its characters lingering in your mind long after you have watched it.

Overall “Copenhagen” is an incredible movie with lots to offer in the form of substance and beauty. I give it a 4 out of 5 pops!

 

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/copenhagen-2014

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/copenhagen_2013/

 

 

 

Stuck in Love

“Stuck in Love” directed by Josh Boone was a great film that had a dramatic atmosphere with a positive underdone. The chosen actors were a great choice and they really brought the characters to life.

Each member of the Borgens family is going through a different phase in their love lives. Samantha(Lily Collins) is a college student and also a newly published author who hates her mother for making her hate love. She soon realizes that what she has been told is not the truth and begins to have a total different outlook on everything. Rusty(Nat Wolff) is a socially awkward high school student in love with the popular girl in his English class. Rusty is also an aspiring writer. Their father William( Greg Kinnear) is a sad and lonely man waiting for his ex-wife to come back to him. He is also a published author and thinks that Erica(Jennifer Connelly), his ex-wife is the reason that he cannot write anymore

Overall i thought that this was a great film but it was also pretty predictable. I give this a 4 out of 5 pops!

The Darjeeling Limited

Wes Anderson brings a funny yet heart-felt story of three brothers to life in the colorful backdrop of India in his fifth feature film, The Darjeeling Limited. Under Anderson’s meticulous attention to movement and detail, the audience follows the Whitman brothers on a spiritual journey filled with unexpected twists and turns throughout– some humorous, some somber, but all perfectly appropriate to the brothers’ search to find themselves and each other. Anderson’s smart screenplay, co-written by Jason Schwartzman, and incredible cinematography do not disappoint in this delightful comedy.

Francis Whitman (Owen Wilson), the most compulsive of the three, has his two brothers join him on a “spiritual journey” through India after being in a recent motorcycle accident. In line with his controlling nature, the trip comes complete with a thorough itinerary of all the holy places they will visit. Peter (Adrien Brody) and Jack (Jason Schwartzman) both have problems and fixations of their own. Peter’s wife, who he anticipated divorcing, is soon to have a baby, and Jack is constantly trying to listen to his ex-girlfriend’s voicemail. As the brothers begin their trip aboard a train, the Darjeeling Limited, immediately the audience can sense tension between the brothers, who have not seen each other since their father’s funeral, quite some time ago. His death hangs over them, and along with their strongly contrasting personalities, fuels their constant bickering and distrust of one another. It is only when one of their shenanigans forces them out of the confines of the colorful train car, that they discover the true reason for their journey and “become brothers again.”

In terms of the direction of this film, Anderson does an incredible job carefully orchestrating quick camera movements and creating quirky details which flow throughout the story. For instance, Adrien Brody is the only brother to wear a complete pair of shoes throughout the story, as Owen Wilson had one of his $3,000 loafers stolen and Jason Schwartzman simply does not wear any. Or the hilarious use of the enormous luggage set which the brothers share as they frantically chase after trains in slow motion. Wilson, Brody, and Schwartzman were all fantastic together in this film, each taking on the idiosyncrasies of their characters very well. Finally, it would be impossible to talk about this film without mentioning Anderson’s beautiful use of color, which creates an exotic atmosphere and keeps the audience’s interest from beginning to end. After viewing this eccentric comedy, I give it a 5 out of 5 pops!

Rated R

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-darjeeling-limited-2007

 

The Shawshank Redemption

In the must see film The Shawshank Redemption, an adaption of the Stephen King Novel Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, is directed by Frank Darabont. The film opens in the late 1940’s with the conviction of a young man named Andy Dufresne, (Tim Robbins) accused of the murder of his wife and her lover. Once Andy is charged with murder he is sentenced to Shawshank Prison. It is there where he meets Red, (Morgan Freeman) another inmate. At first Andy is quiet and reserved, but overtime befriends Red. As the film goes on, Andy faces many hardships in the midst of the corruption at Shawshank. It is in these hardships that Andy uses his wit and knowledge from his life before prison and advice from Red to survive prison life. Not long after he arrives, Andy is already giving tax advice and doing tax returns for the prison officers. Andy quickly earns the respect of both the warden and the officers and earns a position of prison librarian. As the years pass by Andy’s quiet, yet relentless attitude becomes even more prevalent as he works to better educate the prison community.

Overall, the casting for this film was on point. The actors did an incredible job of portraying their characters from beginning to end. There attention to character development and growth richly added to the story. The director and cinematographer did a fantastic job of recreating the emotion and mood of prison life. As the Rolling Stones put it, “The agonies of prison life are meticulously laid out by the cinematographer Roger Deakins…ou can almost feel the frustration and rage seeping into the skins of the inmates,” (Peter Travers).   I walked away from this film fully satisfied and would indefinitely recommend this film and would give it 5 out of 5 pops !

 

 

http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/the-shawshank-redemption-19940101

http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9406E7D9143AF930A1575AC0A962958260

 

Bruce Almighty

In this comedy directed by Tom Shadyac, Bruce (Jim Carrey) finds his life crashing to the ground, in his anger he calls out to God and blames him for the mess his life has become, and God responds. God (Morgan Freeman) gives Bruce his power, and although he enjoys it at first, Bruce soon finds the responsibilities that come along with being God, and realizes that his newfound power comes with a price. Bruce’s frustrations with his new status primarily come from it’s effect on his relationship with his girlfriend Grace (Jennifer Aniston). The film plays on the idea that playing God isn’t as easy as it sounds, and also aims to address the issues both humans and God face because of free will in a comedic atmosphere. The actors’ performances were good and the story was cute, but the plot was a bit weak and predictable. Overall, the film was entertaining and amusing, and was received well by viewers. I would recommend it to someone who is in the mood for a lighthearted comedy with familiar faces. I give it 3 out of 5 pops!