movie review: la la land

I liked this movie, I did—but I really wanted to love it. I had seen so many reviews and heard many good things. It sounded wonderful, transportive, and genuine—hearkening back to the musicals of yesteryear. I was honestly expecting an old-fashioned masterpiece. That is likely why I left the theater feeling more than a little disappointed. And it wasn’t just the ending.

Theme:

Q: Is it possible to hold on to your dreams? A: Not without sacrifice.

Synopsis:

Mia (Emma Stone) is working as a barista on the Warner Bros. lot, but aspires to become an actress/playwright just like the ones who breeze in and out of the coffee shop. Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) is a stubborn jazz pianist, obsessively stuck in his purist ways, who wants to open up his own club with the same traits. While Mia constantly cuts out of work for auditions (which are laugh-out-loud hilarious!), Sebastian is stuck plunking out clichéd, cut-rate tunes in various clubs. Both are old school dreamers trapped in a modern mess of the mundane. They cross paths in the opening scene, flip each other off, and then stumble across each other a couple more times before the inevitable. The rest is the story of how these two lovers get swept up, fall in love and fail in life, chase their dreams, and come out of it all on the other side.

My Take: ***(Little Spoilers)***

Because of a few reviews from friends I knew what to expect in the ending. It was going to be a let-down, and I was prepared to handle that. I did handle it. In fact, the ending sort of saved the film for me. It grounded the plot, and the unsettled feeling stuck with me long after I had driven home and was up to my armpits in laundry and toys. That means a lot. Unfortunately the rest of the film stumbled, almost as much as the two armature tap dancers on screen.

The movie started off on the wrong note—literally. Due to some technical glitch I am sure, the sound in the theater was just a fraction behind what was happening on screen. Hardly noticeable really, but just enough that I couldn’t get over it for the rest of the film. So yes, while I can appreciate people bursting into song in the middle of an L.A. traffic jam, I was so caught up in the delay that the opening scene felt completely fake and cheesy—as did much of what followed.

Something I could get behind? The retro glam! I was head over heels for the suits, the shoes, the dresses, and especially the 40’s vibe sunglasses. I mean, nothing says romance like starry nights, street lamps, and a billowy yellow dress. While the setting is contemporary L.A., right down to the Prius, the soul of this movie is deeply rooted in old Hollywood. Swoon!

All in All:

I liked it. I am still thinking about it, which is something too. And I am making a playlist from the soundtrack on Spotify as we speak. It was a romp and ramble, full of all the passion and pizzazz of old Hollywood romance. With that came a few eye rolls and head shakes (ahem, almost the entire planetarium scene). But it also had a brooding, moody, disconnect that plucked at me--bittersweet to the very end. All together it was sweet, hopeful, and devoted, while also being discordant, frail, and turbulent. So while I didn’t love it, I will likely own it once the movie is released—I'll just skip through the long, whimsical, floating scenes and the montage at the end, thank you very much. 

Movie Review :: Skyfall

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Title: Skyfall

Actors: Daniel Craig, Judy Dench, Javier Bardem, and Ralph Fiennes

Quick Plot: When M's past comes back to haunt her and MI6 is brought under vengeful attack, Bond's loyalty to his craft as well as M are tested. He himself must retreat to his own past for protection.

Stars: ****

Comments: I'll just start off by saying I loved this film and this bond movie, Skyfall, is my most favorite 007 ever! The depth of story and character I loved from the Danial Craig Casino Royal is seeping through every moment of Skyfall. Every lacking, fallen-short criteria that left me disappointed in Quantum of Solace has been completely left to rot, as if that movie never really happened, and lets just say it, it shouldn't have happened. In this new Bond movie you see vulnerability, moral complication, and despair. You see strength, rising from the ashes. You see the gritty, rigid underbelly of agents strung too tight. You see a villain who is disturbed, broken, and downright scary. The movie is action packed, edge of your seat tense, and in a way, revealing and beautiful.

HERE COME THE SPOILERS!!! ALERT, ALERT, ALERT!!!!
In the beginning of the film Bond is presumed dead, but really ditches the MI6 way of life in exchange for wasting away in a drunken, lusty stupor. When he returns to MI6 to come to M's aid he is gruff and scruffy, ragged around the edges, and worn thin. In many ways I thought the crisp, edgy Bond was never going to return. About mid-film, though, my hopes were met when the drop-dead Daniel Craig Bond returns in all his black suit, clean shaven glory. But you don't meet up with Bond, the real Bond until the end of the epic film. Honestly the best Bond movie ever! If you know bond then you will be expecting the sex, shooting, and vulgarity. What you will not be expecting is the raw depth brought to the characters of this film. If you liked Casino Royal, especially the swooning shower scene, then you will LOVE Skyfall. At least, I certainly did. It was rivetting, emotional, conflicting, and stunning. Go see Skyfall and let me know what you think. 

Movie Review :: The Avengers

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Title: The Avengers

Actors: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner

Quick Plot: Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D assembles a team of super heroes and super humans to save the Earth from being overrun by Loki and his army of aliens.

Stars: ****

Comments: Going into this movie I had big, huge, hulking expectations. My husband and brother saw it when it first came out and were raving mad about it. As I was asking a series of questions about the movie my Superman admitted to liking it better than Iron Man, and even perhaps better than Batman: Dark Knight. I was shocked and excited by this idea that a superhero movie could surpass, what I believed to be, the greatest comic turned movie of all time. Sadly, my expectations were not met. Don't get me wrong, it was a fantastic movie full of action, drama, and Tony Stark-isms. Some of my favorites, that my brother cannot stop quoting, include: "Make your move reindeer games" and "Better clench up Legolas." The story was good, the actors were good, the conclusion to be as expected. However, I cannot in good faith give this the five stars of Dark Knight. It just didn't quite do it for me, especially with it being so long and my bum going numb in the theater. This might just be because it took a while for this movie to really wind up and get started. We will be buying this on Blue Ray, I have no doubt and it is a must see for summer. It is just not a see multiple times in theaters, at least, not for me. My hubby and brother would beg to differ. Also, just as a heads up, somehow I am getting talked into considering The Avengers as our Halloween costumes this year. I can't help it though, there is a reeeeeeally cute baby Thor costume that I am dying over. K.B. in that costume might just be the deciding factor. 

Movie Review :: Get Low

Movie: Get Low

Plot Summary: This comedy about death comes from a real incident in the 30s where a man who has lived as a hermit for four decades decides to plan his own funeral so he can attend. So he finds two funeral planners and gives them wads of cash to start planing his funeral party. He wants to invite all of the people who know a story about him. So the planning begins and Felix, the crazy hobo, is fitted for a suit and a casket. Everyone in the county is encouraged to show up. On the day of his funeral Felix is the one who ends up shares his story.

Review: I love this show. I love movies that often find themselves off the beaten path; ones that the majority do not even realize exist. When I first found this skimming imdb I was intrigued. The plot summary sounded interesting and I decided to write the release date in my handy, dandy planner. Well the release date came and went, and I didn't see this movie hit the main theaters. I then forgot about it until I was planning an inexpensive double date for my Superman and I to go with my parents. Then I found it again, at the dollar movies. So we all went together. I was enthralled through the whole film. I loved the story, the actors, the writing, the setting. It was quirky and fun. Though it may be true the climax of the show left a little bit wanting, the rest of the genuine and sincere story more than made up for it. It draws out questions of death, fidelity, and true love. I have watched it several times since my excursion to the dollar movies and see many more viewings in my future. 

Side Note**SPOILER ALERT**: When I went to this movie with my hubby and parents we came out of the film chatting and glowing. We all liked it so much and couldn't believe it hadn't hit the big screen, or that no one had even heard of it besides me. On our way out to the car we were stopped by a man who was apparently in the movie with us. He said he had to take a call and missed the last few minutes of the film. He told us the last scene he remembered and we filled him in, telling him how Felix made his final confession and the movie ended with his quiet death. He looked disgusted and said, I quote, "That was the biggest waste of a dollar." I was honestly outraged. I wanted to tell this man that the money he was wasting was in fact money he spent on the Big Mac he was holding in his grubby hand. I wanted to say it was the best dollar I had spent in a long time. This my friends, is why there is so much trash readily available in the media. No this movie does not have any action packed car races, no guns and ammo, no sex or salacious behavior. It is a simple and genuine story about a man who carried an unbearable burden for forty years, putting himself through a living purgatory, and finally found a way to release it and forgive himself. It is an honest and sweet communication of unlikely friendships. It is a movie about life; about living and losing and struggling to live again. It is good people; a simple, good movie. If you see it and hate it then I am sorry, you probably will hate many of the movies I like then, and that's okay I guess. You may just want to skip all of my movie reviews in future though. The DVD was released today and it was money well spent in my opinion.