Shattered Glass, 2003

Another Blockbuster rental [yuck, I know, but the library that I went to sucked big time, so when I spotted Blockbuster in that suburban stripmall, it was like a beautiful water fountain mirage in the desert].

I've been wanting to see Shattered Glass since it came out. I was in a journalism class and just cultivating my passion for the medium [oh okay]. I was reintroduced to the idea, I suppose, freshman year of college in a media class, where we talked about journalism scandals.

Stephen Glass was a young journalist who wrote mainly for The New Republic. [I was also interested in this movie because I have a friend who currently works at the magazine]. His stories were seemingly almost too good to be true- turns out they were.

The film chronicles the deception by Glass and skims the service of his motives. It shows him in the editorial meetings, charming his co-workers with his colorful story pitches. It's sort of confusing, though, because it shows realizations of the stories as he tells them. I don't mean to spoil it for you, but his stories are NOT REAL. But they show them happening. It's confusing, mostly because we don't really learn Glass's motives for the whole thing. Then again, Glass apparently hasn't been willing to explain why he's done either, even five years later.

Hayden Christensen portrays Glass. I was hesitant because of the way my peers lament the actor, claiming that he ruined Star Wars. But I think he did a good job of playing a man that was so in need of peer-approval and success. Glass is busy working at TNR but applies to and attends law school at Georgetown. He constantly asks his boss and co-workers if they are "mad" at him. Though Glass doesn't explain his full intentions after the fact, you can understand how something like this happens.

Also I think this is the first film of modern cool-girl fashion icon Chloe Sevigny. I like her. Also Peter Saarsgard is pretty cool, though I didn't get the praise from the back of the DVD case [loads of awards], but then again I liked him more then I did in Garden State.

Overall a worthwhile film, especially if you're interested in a glimpse inside of the magazine world, or interested in people who ... like to make things up?

[Photo from http://thecia.com.au/reviews/s/images/shattered-glass-poster-0.jpg]

BATMAN - Batman Begins, 2005

Again - those big-action Hollywood superhero films rarely catch my eye. I didn't even know that this film had come out until I started paying more attention.

This glossy, full-of-attitude and darkness Batman franchise is extremely stylish, and I like the way we're taught to really think about Bruce Wayne as a human, and the implications of his crime-fighting. That line of thinking is really interesting, and an asset to the film. 

That said, I really didn't like Batman Begins - not as a film on its own and especially not after having seen The Dark Knight. I thought that there was far too much focus on his strange Martial Arts fight training, and that plotline was weird - plus Liam Neeson looked like a catfish. There wasn't enough focus on Bruce Wayne's and Rachael's adult relationship, and also not enough focus on the public reaction to his superhero persona. I thought the crime plan was weird and not engaging. The shining beacon of light was of course Cillian Murphy.

[Photo from http://v4.valkiria.net/skin/film/pic/misc_img/b_batman_begins.jpg]

BATMAN - The Dark Knight, 2008

All the hoopla around The Dark Knight forced me into actually wanting to see it. I'm typically not interested in the big-budget Hollywood action films, but I have to say - I fucking loved TDK. It was shiny and action-packed and realistic in an unrealistic way. I don't know if Heath Ledger's death affected the way I judged his performance, but it was really, really great- dedicated and fucking creepy. I was engaged for the entire two-point-five hours, and would see it again in a second. I'm thinking IMAX.

Seeing TDK has gotten me on this Batman kick. I now plan to watch all its prequels. I should have done this before seeing it, but you can't always get what you want. I'll be talking about/reviewing those as I see them.

[Photo from: http://www.reelmovienews.com/images/gallery/the-dark-knight-characters_472x312.jpg]

People who need to GTFO

Any vacation from school where I'm spending any time at all at home equals one thing: SO. MUCH. TELEVISION. And internet and etc.etc. As a result, I'm developing some strong opinions on the people of pop culture. Here's a short list of some people who I think need to GTFO [get the fuck out, in case you're not in the know]:

Ali Lohan. Like, are you fucking serious? Physically, she's such an awkward caricature of Lindsay. I won't even get started on her mom. Does this 14-year-old really deserve a singing career? I'm glad that your sister is famous, but do you really want to end up like her [not to be harsh, I'm thinking of the natural child star fate]? Please, Ali, go enjoy your childhood.

Jo de la Rosa. You might be wondering, who? I wish I could say the same. One of my usual TV channels is Bravo. I was glued to the screen during The Real Housewives of Orange County, which is where I first took notice of Miss de la Rosa. If that was where her career started and ended, I'd be fine with her. But no, reality television is not a subtle creature. Now, probably in an effort to promote her singing career, we get to watch Jo be set up with random dudes, on the show Date my Ex. It's been on Bravo at least 65 times in the past week, and is seriously the most boring thing, probably less thrilling then Moment of Truth. I think her song is the intro to her show- more worthless pop dribble.

Josh Peck. I know, I know- I shouldn't judge people based on appearance and should give former chubby child stars a chance. But I don't think that the premise/hype for The Wackness could be any more obnoxious [too soon, and too much Olsen]. Are we trying to say that this dude is a sex symbol now? Like, ten seconds ago you were the goofy fat sidekick to the somewhat attractive Drake Bell, but now you went to a gym and stopped smiling in photos and I'm supposed to take you seriously?

I know that this is not in-line with the purpose of this blog, to increase our cultural knowledge. I can't be meaningful all the time. I should go out and give all these things a chance, but instead I chose to share my irritation with you. Harsh? Probably. I need to get out more.

[Photos from: http://content8.flixter.com/photo/11/07/11/11011146_ori.jpg, http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/09kpe759ue2UL/349x.jpg, http://images.starpulse.com/Photos/pv/Josh%20Peck-6.jpg, http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/04cl6617lzaE2/610x.jpg]

The Dreamers, 2003

I'll admit: I've been wanting to see this movie for ages but have been scared. Can I handle the blatant sexuality? The incestuous themes? As of late, I've been slightly obsessed with the portrayal of incest in film [we seek it out and look for the creepiest forms- this doesn't make me strange, does it?]. I found it in Blockbuster and finally decided that I was ready for it.

Verdict? I loved it. For real. The nudity? Only slightly shocking. I did love that it was almost an equal playing field, though. It really bugs me when bare female breasts are basically a mainstay and that almost all those "important" films that I've been schooling myself in feature them. Naked dudes? Not so much. So I am relieved [really?] that I can count both Michael Pitt and Louis Garrel in the "dudes I've seen nude" list that I keep in the back of my mind.

Right, right the movie. It's about these youngsters who get through their difficult lives by being fabulous in Paris and watching a lot of movies. Let's be serious- I can relate because I really mostly only want to watch movies, and I wish that I was doing so in Paris. Done and done.

The incest wasn't as extreme as I was expecting, which is nice, honestly. Though I love the awkward screen incest, it's not exactly comfortable. The cinematography was extremely dreamy [heh] and it was a story I could get down with. Go see it and DON'T BE SCARED.

[image from http://www.trimir.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2006/03/C7544-04.jpg]

Wristcutters: A Love Story, 2006

I had heard about this movie for a while and it didn't really do much for me, but I saw it while I was in Ballbuster the other day and I felt compelled to grab it and take it home. I'm extremely glad that I did. Honestly, never deny the appeal of PATRICK FUGIT. I don't know what it is about him, but I fucking love it.

Anyway the film is set in this weird perjury that suicide victims are sent to- where things suck just a little bit more. It's extremely dark and has a light take on suicide, but one that is ultimately entertaining and NOT offensive [and oh I am easily offended.]

The movie honestly had me laughing out loud [lolin' really], mostly because of the antics of the Russian Eugene [played by Shea Whigham] as well as a surprising appearance by Will Arnet. Also in the film is Tom Waits, which was awesome, needless to say.

Oh these movie reviews are kinda hard. Oh well, I'm just saying I think the cinematography was great- I haven't wanted to escape to the desert of the US so badly since Badlands. It's really a sweet movie, score one more for the reasons not to kill yourself. Go see it and pray with me that Patrick Fugit is not mormon and is figuring out the most romantic way to propose to me.

[photo from http://paddyk.files.wordpress.com/2006/11/wristcutters.JPG]

Charlie Bartlett, 2007

I was going to use this space to post a review of Charlie Bartlett, but instead, I'll briefly discuss a few things that I found the most interesting.

1. Was this ever shown in theaters? I remember being stoked on it for probably a year now, it's basically criminal that I had to wait for DVD.

2. Charlie Bartlett is a qt, and would make a worthy new addition to my group of friends.

3. I love Kat Dennings because she has like... A REAL BODY? Finally.

4. Robert Downey Jr. is amazing.

5. Interesting commentary on the modern prescription drug culture

6. I LOVED the plethora [at least three = plethora to me] of former/current Degrassi cast members. Shout out to Craig Manning, Paige Michalchuk and Jimmy Brooks! Glad that they could finally break out of being typecast in those troubled high school roles.

Verdict: I didn't totally love it like I assumed that I would, but it's definitely an enjoyable film. I loved it until things go completely out of control. I tend to lose a bit of interest when gun-toting drunks go head-to-head with high schoolers [oh, oops, spoilers.]

[photo from http://owlpellets.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/bartlett2.jpg]

Off-Topic but Sin City is on MTV right now... wtf, am i rite?

Ballbuster more like

The library, my go-to source for free movie rentals [with a really great selection] had been closed for an hour when I pulled into its parking lot today. In a panic, I drove aimlessly up Route 1, praying that Blockbuster was open. Thankfully, the "for lease" signs in the windows were merely misleading. The store was open, though barely. I don't think there was any sort of order to the way the videos were ordered, and more of the stock was for purchase and not rent. I was impressed, however, with the selection for the most part. I instantly saw several movies I wanted to rent. Then I got to the counter. My conclusion?

BLOCKBUSTER IS FUCKING EXPENSIVE. Fuck ever paying 15$ for three movies ever again, and I mean it. Go out and support your local independent video store [which is probably cheaper] or flex your tax dollars by utilizing your library [freeeee].

Labyrinth, 1986

I finally saw Labyrinth last night. Though it's hilariously bad at many times [like creepy singing and horrible acting], I was honestly really amazed by a lot of Jim Henson's puppetry. I saw the movie at the AFI Silver Theater in Silver Spring, [as part of both a Jim Henson and 80's Movies retrospective.] Jennifer Connelly should be a fashion icon based on that movie, with her collar unapologetically high and popped; her stick-straight, black hair all over the place with her dramatic head tosses. I definitely enjoyed the movie and certainly wish that I had first seen it at a much younger, less sarcastic age. Then I may not have focused so much on David Bowie's ridiculously obvious codpiece. 

The best part about being able to see these classic movies in the theater is definitely the audience. Despite seeing Labyrinth at 11:30pm, the cult followers were out and active, cheering and loudly commenting. This was almost as entertaining as the dude in Gimme Shelter, who just started whooping loudly for no reason.

[photo from http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/153/835880~Labyrinth-Posters.jpg]