Ten Inch Hero (2007)

I'll admit - the only reason I watched this was for Jensen Ackles (star of my favorite television show "Supernatural"). However, I am really glad I did because it was very very cute.

"Ten Inch Hero" centers around a quirky group of individuals who work at a sandwich shop in Santa Cruz and each of their unique love lives. The main character, Piper (Elisabeth Harnois), is new to join the crew. A young artist, Piper later reveals that she moved to Santa Cruz to be closer to her young daughter, whom she gave up for adoption and has lost contact with for several years. The family that adopted Piper's daughter, Julia, ceased communicating with Piper after two years. After finidng a newspaper clipping about a talented young youth who has a gift for art and also shares the same name as her daughter, Piper packed up and moved to California. She begins innocently stalking the family (although it's just the dad and daughter at this point) until she fatefully finds herself being part of their lives.

The other members of the sandwich crew are also going through important stages of their lives - mostly in the love department. Priestly (Jensen Ackles) is the off-beat, tattoeed and peirced, yet charming, cook with a mohawk that changes colors almost daily. After years of seeing how women choose the men they will date based solely on looks, he has become disillusioned by love. Jen (Clea DuVall) is the smart and kind-hearted woman who works the computers. She has been engaging in an online relationship with an anonymous person she met online. She fears the inevitable day when they will have to meet face-to-face. Tish (Danneel Ackles) is the sexy vixen who can get any guy who walks into the sandwich shop. However, she has a tendency to pick all the wrong guys, later realizing looks are not the best indicators for a man's character. Lastly, Trucker (John Doe) is the surfer/hippy shop owner who has been pining after the free-spirited woman who works across the street. However, he just can't seem to make the first move.

All in all, this movie has some pretty universal themes: things aren't always as they seem, don't be fooled by appearances, beauty is only skin deep, don't judge a book by it's cover, etc. However, the movie has an interesting way of making these timeless themes fresh and still relevant. Each character has a different issue to face, but in the end, it all comes back to love and identity. Priestly helps show Tish that perhaps if she stopped picking guys based on physical appearance, she may end up finding the man of her dreams. Jen learns that even though she was quick to assume her internet-penpal (who turned out to be a looker) would probably judge her negatively based on her seemingly average looks, she was also negatively judging him without actually giving him a chance. Piper, whose story line was actually my least favorite and much less believable, learns some things too but I'm not really going to get into it. Overall, there is more to people than meets the eye, and if you take the time to realize that, you will reap the benefits (wouldnt it be great if we could all end up with a sweet and caring guy who also looks like Jensen Ackles?).

"Ten Inch Hero" is a cute and enjoyable movie, and I have a feeling I'll be watching it again at some point. What's great about it is that I think out of all the characters, there is at least one that each one of us can directly relate to. I highly reccomend!

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Genre: Drama, Comedy
Synopsis: The story of five friends who learn about love, sex, and cold cuts while working in a funky sandwich shop. The story of five friends who learn about love, sex, and cold cuts while working in a funky sandwich shop.

Rated: R
Running Time: 1 hr. 41 min.
On DVD: Feb 22, 2011
Distributor:Phase 4 Films
Directed By: David MacKay , David Mackay

Limitless (2011)

 

This movie made me wish that NZT was a real drug. 

"Limitless" is the story of a struggling writer named Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) who is generally lacking in ambition and any real direction in life. His girlfriend leaves him and the book he has been "working on" for the past several years doesn't actually have a word on the page yet. Anyway, Eddie runs into an old acquaintance on the street -- his ex-brother-in-law. The former deadbeat seems to have his life together and informs Eddie that its all thanks to this brand new drug that hasn't hit the market yet. He lets Eddie try one on the house and Eddie soon discovers that this mysterious pill, which they call NZT, has some pretty incredible effects. The pill allows you to use all of your brain -- anything you've ever read or heard in your lifetime can be accessed instantly like you were pulling an old file from the shelf. You can become fluent in a new language within hours, think your way out of life-threatening situations, or in Eddie's case, you can write that book you've been sitting on for years in the course of a few days. 

Of course, there are downsides to the miracle drug. Eddie finds out that those who used to take the drug are either dead or have serious mental illnesses. Eddie, who has been taking the drug more frequently now and has come into quite a different lifestyle as a high-powered consultant in the financial world, finds himself unable to account for what he's been doing during periodic blackouts that sometimes last for hours. Eddie also finds that his life is in danger. The drug, obviously in high demand by those who know about it, drives some to go to great lengths to ensure they can get it.

In the middle of all of this, Eddie makes the acquaintance of business mogul Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro), who he manages to impress with his new-found business insight. However, things become much more complicated as Eddie fights for survival -- both against the drug's fatal effects and the hit-men who are trying to kill him. 

It's a great action-thriller. Very entertaining and it really showcases Bradley Cooper's acting ability. I didn't know for sure if Cooper would be able to carry an entire film as the lead, but he did. Most of the films I've seen him in have been comedies where he performs with a strong ensemble cast. But "Limitless" proves that there is more to Mr. Cooper than just good looks and witty quips. The man has some range.

It also makes you consider what you could accomplish if you had the chance to sample some NZT. As a writer, I often find myself suffering from the painful debilitation of writer's block. Just the other day I thought to myself "If only I had just one of those small, clear pills..."

And for those who have seen the film, I am interested to know what you thought of the end. Eddie's claim that he successfully weaned himself off the drug with no side effects yet he was still able to retain everything he learned seems highly debatable. The way the ending was depicted, I think that was the director's intention. I don't think we are supposed to know for sure.

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Genre: Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Synopsis: A writer discovers a top-secret drug which bestows him with super human abilities.

Rated: PG-13   for thematic material involving a drug, violence including disturbing images, sexuality and language
Running Time: 1 hr. 45 min.
In Theaters: Mar 18, 2011 Wide
Box Office:$41.1M

Distributor: Relativity Media
Directed By: Neil Burger

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

This is just a really cute movie. A lot of my friends told me it was one of their favorites, and I can see why.

The story revolves around a colorful group of friends in England who seem to find themselves at a lot of weddings, although never one of their own. Hugh Grant plays the lead role of Charles, who has a long history of failed relationships. Charles is the adorably awkward and charming British bachelor -- a role that Hugh Grant has mastered over the years. At one of the weddings, Charles becomes smitten with a mysterious American named Carrie (Andie MacDowell). They end up spending the night together, but the next day Carrie returns home to America. When they end up meeting again at yet another wedding, Charles hopes to pick up where they left off, but he finds that she is recently engaged (to a much older and much less attractive Englishman). The two wind up meeting again at another wedding, and it becomes clear that they just can't seem to get their timing right. I don't want to spoil how the rest plays out or who the funeral is held for. If you are curious, you should really just watch the film.

There were a lot of laughs -- particularly with the group's rowdier member, Gareth (Simon Callow), who always seemed to be the life of the party. It was also very amusing to see how consistently late Charles and his roommate were for every wedding. Cue about a zillion expletives.

But there were also scenes with a lot of heart. Of course, one being the funeral. But another being the storyline of Fiona (Kristin Scott Thomas), who plays one of the friends. The audience finds out that she has had feelings for one of her friends for years, but without him ever knowing or reciprocating.
All in all, a very cute movie. Hugh Grant has perfected the disarming, charming, awkward sweetheart. This movie certainly highlights that.


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Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy
Synopsis: Romantic comedy about Charles, a noncommittal Englishman who meets Carrie--the American girl of his dreams--at a mutual friend's wedding and proceeds to awkwardly woo her through one funeral and three more weddings--one of which happens to be her... Romantic comedy about Charles, a noncommittal Englishman who meets Carrie--the American girl of his dreams--at a mutual friend's wedding and proceeds to awkwardly woo her through one funeral and three more weddings--one of which happens to be her own. Finally Charles discovers himself standing at the altar on his own wedding day, betrothed to a woman he has no desire to spend the rest of his life with.

Rated: R  for language, and for some sexuality.
Running Time: 1 hr. 56 min.
In Theaters: Mar 9, 1994 Wide
On DVD: Sep 7, 1999

Distributor: Gramercy Pictures
Directed By: Mike Newell

Say Anything (1989)

Ugghhhh.... I am just going to start out by saying I was greatly disappointed by this movie. I normally love movies from the 80s, too. So imagine my chagrin.

I don't know. I guess I figured since the scene depicted above is so widely recognized that must mean that this movie was worth watching. WRONG.

In short, this movie is about the underachieving Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) who falls in love with the class valedictorian Diane Court (Ione Skye). The two undergo some "obstacles" in their relationship, including her wanting to take care of her dad during her last summer before going away to England for a fellowship. In the middle of it all, Diane's dad is audited by the IRS because *spoiler alert* apparently he has been stealing from the old people he tends to at his nursing home for decades!


Oh *another spoiler alert* don't worry about how the two will continue their relationship once Diane leaves for England. After 2 months of dating this person he had never known before, he decides he will move to England with her. As he stated throughout the film, he really had no ambition anyway with the exception of loving her. Excuse me while I vomit. I found this movie ridiculously unrealistic and bizarre. It was also boring at times. I literally fast-forwarded through many scenes. Oh and her dad ends up in jail! The whole movie just seemed so weird and I'm unsure why I wasted my time. Oh, and to top it all off, that notorious scene where Cusack's character holds the stereo up (which I thought would be this grand gesture at the very end that wins her back) is actually in the middle of the film and has very little effect on her. It's also a very short scene.

I just found their whole relationship highly unbelievable. She was this super driven girl with what appears to be zero friends while he was this guy with absolutely no ambition or goals who decides he is going to start dating her. They eventually get hot and heavy, but then she breaks it off so she can be with her dad (who is definitely having his own problems) and also so she can prevent the future heartache between the two when she leaves for Europe.This all happens within the span of like a few months, maybe 2 tops. I'm not really sure what they ever had to talk about, but that probably didn't matter anyway because she did enough talking with her dad. I mean, she literally told the guy everything, including details of her sexual encounters with Lloyd. I don't know, it was all just bizarre to me. And where was Lloyd's family in all of this? Maybe I missed that when I was fast-forwarding.

I will never watch this movie again. And I think it has scarred me so badly that I can never watch a Cusack movie again... not that I would be missing much.

I feel bad posting such a negative review, especially considering this movie scored 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. I will say, however, that I have a feeling this movie meant a lot to another generation, and I can respect that. 

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Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy
Synopsis: Romantic comedy about a less-than-average student who falls in love with a brilliant biochemistry major. Romantic comedy about a less-than-average student who falls in love with a brilliant biochemistry major.

Rated: PG-13 adult situations/language
Running Time: 1 hr. 40 min.
In Theaters: Apr 1, 1989 Wide

Distributor:20th Century Fox Film Corporation
Directed By: Cameron Crowe
Written By: Cameron Crowe

The King's Speech (2010)

I saw this movie for 2 reasons: Firstly, because I love Colin Firth. Secondly, because of all the Oscar buzz it was getting. Suffice it to say, I'm glad I saw it. And yes, I am very pleased it won the Oscar for Best Picture. It surely deserved it.

The movie centers around the story of King George VI, or Bertie (Colin Firth) as his family calls him. Bertie, the son of King George V, has gone through the majority of his life with a debilitating stammer. Imagine the problem that ensues when you become the King of England and you can't seem to deliver a speech to your people. After trying countless different doctors and methods, Bertie has given up on seeking help. However, his wife (Helena Bonham Carter) does not. She somehow finds a rather unorthodox speech specialist by the name of Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). The remainder of the film details the interesting relationship between Lionel and the newly-appointed king.

It goes without saying that the acting in this movie was incredible, so I won't dwell on that.

I will, however, dwell on the captivating story. Yes, it's a period piece, but it's also so much more than that. You think that a movie about a king with a speech problem is going to be a bore, but you'd be wrong. What struck me was the way Lionel never backed down from the king. Despite the fact that he was dealing with British royalty, Lionel (obviously of middle class) required that he be treated as an equal in order for treatment to commence. I actually think that was a large theme of the film -- Bertie finding a way to not only communicate with but also relate to the common man. The two made an interesting duo, and it was a joy to see their relationship go from heartwarming highs to heart-wrenching lows. There were also plenty of laughs along the way.

I also found it interesting that while all this inner turmoil was going on within the king, a World War was brewing outside. It provided an interesting juxtaposition. A dichotomy of two simultaneous wars going on, both of which required the king's perseverance and strength of heart.

Unlike the other speech therapists who attempted to cure the king, Lionel wanted to get to the root of the problem. What unfolds is an intense history of family pressures (similar to any ordinary family but on a much grander scale of intensity), self doubt and self-deprecation. It's hard to imagine ever feeling sorry for someone who comes from such a blessed life circumstance, but this movie does just that. There is much more to this man than one could have ever imagined. It is truly an inspiration to see his journey and his transition into the man he inevitably became. The man his country needed at a time when the world was at war and they needed someone to look to for strength and guidance.

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Genre: Drama
Synopsis: After the death of his father King George V (Michael Gambon) and the scandalous abdication of King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), Bertie (Colin Firth) who has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life, is suddenly crowned King George VI... The story of King George VI of Britain, his impromptu ascension to the throne and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch become worthy of it.

Rated: R for some language
Running Time: 1 hr. 51 min.
In Theaters: Nov 26, 2010 Limited
On DVD: Apr 19, 2011
Box Office:$132.5M

Distributor:The Weinstein Company
Directed By: Tom Hooper
Written By: David Seidler

Black Swan (2010)

Ok, so this is definitely a movie that's actually worth all the Oscar buzz. The story is thrilling/disturbing/unsettling/entertaining and Natalie Portman gives an incredibly compelling performance.

'Black Swan' is about a ballet dancer (Portman) who wins the leading role in the production of "Swan Lake." However, Portman's character, Nina Sayers, is all about perfection. She spends hours and hours making sure every move is just right. But the director, played by Vincent Cassel, wants to make the performance edgier than ever before, and he really pushes Nina to perform both the angelic white swan but also be able to let go of her rigid perfection with the evil black swan. The immense pressure starts to get to Nina, and with that comes feelings of paranoia, doubt and fear.

Portman is one of the few actresses I truly enjoy watching on film. She has played so many different roles in her career, many of them being strong-willed characters, but here she is playing a fragile and meek dancer... and I instantly believed it. She can easily convey so many complex emotions with grace and ease. Not to mention the strange metamorphosis she undergoes during this particular film. It's incredible to watch.

Mila Kunis plays Lily, another dancer in the ballet who exudes sex appeal and charm. It becomes clear to Nina that Lily is able to portray the black swan with much less effort. At one point, Nina fears Lily is trying to usurp the role of swan queen. The two leading ladies make for an interesting dichotomy on screen, and Kunis delivers an equally convincing role.

Both actresses began training for the roles six months prior to shooting in order to attain the proper body type and tone for a ballet dancer. They underwent daily exercise regimens and dance training (several hours a day) along with a strict diet of 1,200 calories a day. It was reported that Kunis actually got down to under 100 pounds. Although that all sounds pretty hardcore, I think it ultimately paid off and made the movie look that much more authentic.

Intense and haunting, this film takes the audience through a psychological nightmare that will leave their nerves shot and minds blown... and possibly needing a hug afterward.

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Genre: Mystery & Suspense, Drama
Synopsis: A ballet dancer wins the lead in "Swan Lake" and is perfect for the role of the delicate White Swan - Princess Odette - but slowly loses her mind as she becomes more and more like Odette's evil sister, Odile, the Black Swan.

Rated: R for strong sexual content, disturbing violent images, language and some drug use
Running Time: 1 hr. 50 min.
In Theaters: Dec 3, 2010 Limited
Box Office:$95.9M

Distributor:Fox Searchlight
Directed By: Darren Aronofsky

Doom (2005)

Ok, so I rented this movie on a whim... I had low expectations, but I was curious to see what it was all about. I mean, it's got Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Karl Urban. Come on!

If you go into it like I did, you probably won't be too disappointed. It obviously wasn't a thought provoking blockbuster or an inspiring academy award winner, but I don't think it was trying to be. Just some old-fashioned shoot-em up fun!

To sum up, the film is about some space marines who are sent to investigate a research facility on another planet only to discover the facility has been overtaken by genetically modified monsters. Blah blah blah... back story about scientists with god complexes who experimented on human test subjects... blah blah.. must kill or be killed. They also threw in a cute brother and sister storyline to try and get the audience somewhat emotionally invested. The plot is seriously lacking, but I guess that's what happens when you make a movie based on a video game.

One thing I did enjoy is when the movie switches to a POV (point of view) shot that simulates the video game experience. You are seeing everything through the perspective of John Grimm (played by Urban), and as you view only his arms and gun as he takes aim on aliens lurking in corners and on ceilings, you get a sense that you are actually playing the first person shooter game. I'm not sure how true the actual story was to the original game, but the look and feel was an interesting homage to video gamers.

Overall, I must admit, I was entertained. It's a fun, mindless action-horror movie, and as long as you don't expect anything more, it will probably be your newest guilty pleasure.

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Genre: Action & Adventure, Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Synopsis: When a Special Ops squadron answers a distress call from a science lab on the planet Olduvai, the investigation reveals that a series of mutant beings... When a Special Ops squadron answers a distress call from a science lab on the planet Olduvai, the investigation reveals that a series of mutant beings are systematically killing off the population there. 

Rated: R for strong violence/gore and language
Running Time: 1 hr. 45 min.
In Theaters: Oct 21, 2005 Wide
Box Office:$28.0M

Distributor:Universal Pictures
Directed By: Andrzej Bartkowiak
Written By: Wesley Strick, Dave Callaham