Movie Review: Thirty Dark Zero

Saw the movie.

It was really good. Not great, but really good.

Perhaps it was all the hype about being the best movie of the year/ever made that made my expectations so high. The trailers were very powerful also.

But although the subject matter was very heavy, the movie felt somewhat light, like it was missing some connectedness...that is, until the end.

The Navy Seal team got into their super-stealth helicopters to fly into Afghanistan to the compound that supposedly housed Bin Laden. Apparently it was filmed in the same amount of time the mission took, so we were viewing it in "real time."

This is when the tension really started. This was the part that made the movie good for me.

It was nerve-wracking. There wasn't a sound in the theater. Everyone was quiet, fixated on what was taking place on the screen. This was it - what were we going to get to see? How does this all play out?

And then, just as the Navy Seals were closing in on Bin Laden, the sound in our theater quit working.

At the pivotal climax of this super-hyped film, we had no audio.

It was such a monumental letdown. The removal of the audio, accompanied by the feral rage pitched by the audience, took me completely out of the moment.

The tension was gone.

After what felt like forever, the sound came back on. It was probably  about 25 seconds, but these were crucial seconds.

Anyway, there were good performances by the main actors. Jessica Chastain was captivating. She's just a pleasure to watch. Glad she won the Golden Globe.

The scenes with the torture were not pleasant to watch. The behind-the-scenes as the agents are looking for anything that would lead them to Bin Laden were entertaining, and individualy were great. But when they were all put together, it sometimes felt disjointed and forced.

SPOILER:

The first minute of the movie is audio only. It's of a 911 call from someone in one of the Twin Towers, speaking with a 911 operator.

It was incredibly chilling and sad and devastating to hear, because of what was said and how it went and what happened at the end of the call. It was so hard to hear. However, I thought it was the perfect way to start this movie. It reminded you why this story needed to be told.

It's definitely a movie you should see in the theater.

Movie Review: The Impossible

A very good film. It's based on the true story of a Spanish family spending Christmas in Thailand when a tsunami hits and kills hundreds of thousands of people.

Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts and the oldest kid do a fantastic job pulling together as a family in crisis.

What stood out to me were the ancillary players - the hotel concierge, the villagers who work together to get the mother and son to a hospital, and the hospital and aid workers. Everyone just did what they had to do with compassion, certitude and kindness.

The visuals were believable - the injuries, the water, and destruction. There were a couple parts that seemed too real, where you pull your hand up to cover your mouth because it's almost too shocking for words.

It's worth seeing in the theater.

Brave and engaged

It's been an interesting weekend full of wonderful time with family and friends, and also of signs.

I am a believer in signs. I don't look for them, and sometimes I don't recognize them until it's too late to do anything with them, but in that case they serve as great reminders for how incredible the universe can be. But when I do recognize them, in the moment, I do my best to understand what they mean and act accordingly.

I've had many signs over this holiday weekend and in the weeks leading up to it, and they all pointed me to an "a ha!" moment that happend earlier today.

After my run this morning I turned on NPR to catch what was left of "On Being." It's a wonderful show hosted by Krista Tippett. It used to be called "Speaking of Faith" and I'm glad they changed the name because On Being feels more encompassing and less limiting...to me, anyway.

Brene Brown was the main guest, and she discussed her research on shame and wholeheartedness and how courage is born of vulnerability.

I found that as the segment went on, I wasn't hearing anything I didn't believe in or find to be untrue. In fact, some of the things Brown discussed were things I had thought about often, but had difficulty putting into concise thoughts.

It was a truth I'd not heard expressed in this way, and she put words to a feeling that many struggle with every day.

How often do we let shame get in the way of our progress? Too often. As humans, we hold onto past hurts, done by us to others or by others onto ourselves, and we let them fester and hold us back. This is a learned behavior, it's a practiced way of thinking that I truly believe can be challenged and changed.

I share the same belief that vulnerability and truth can bring about courage and progress. I've talked about transparency before, but that's not the same thing as vulnerability.

To say that you don't go out much because you aren't very social is being transparent - you're admiting a fact, but not getting to the heart of it. To say that you don't go out much because you find it fearful to interact with new people because you feel judged and it makes you feel bad is admitting vulnerability. To then go and do the thing you fear or that might hurt you while owning the truth behind your reluctance is courageous. It's brave and engaged.

I watched a couple of movies over the weekend that, looking back, were a sort of precursor to Brown's segment in that they were wonderously moving examples of letting vulnerability out for the world to see, regardless of the impact, because the truth is unavoidable.

"Wish Me Away" is the story of country singer Chely Wright's coming out as a lesbian. She lets it all hang out in the documentary, and I was very moved by her admissions on-camera of how she felt about her family, her image, her relationship with the church, and her fans. She embraced who she was and moved forward, but throughout the story was honest about her fears and her pain. I'm not a country music fan, but I am now a fan of Chely's.

I also saw "Silver Linings Playbook", starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Dinero. It was a beautiful movie about family, mental illness, loss and being truthful. I so enjoyed how the screenwriter let the characters speak the truth so much throughout this movie. They owned it!! Cooper's character talks a lot about rebuilding, being broken but getting whole, and finding the silver moments and silver linings. The characters dole out one honest blow after another, both metaphorically and physically, and while they looked like they hurt many times, these blows of honesty helped get everyone on a fair playing field. I highly recommend this movie - typical Hollywood ending, but everything that leads up to it is raw and funny and warm and right.

Going back to On Being, another thing that Brown mentioned was how she'd met people who accepted their shortgivings and didn't struggle with shame. They engaged from a place of worthiness, and knew they were worthy of love and belonging and that it was on the table and non-negotiable.

I absolutely love this. Belonging is on the table and non-negotiable. Words to live by.

Unless you give them the power, there isn't anyone who can tell you you're not worthy and have it mean anything. You are in charge of your self-worth, no one else.

And it all goes back to gaining courage from the truth of your vulnerability.

So be brave. Be engaged. Hope it gets you far.

Lips and gravel - movie review

We went to see the film "Lawless" last night.

It was much better that I expected it to be. Perhaps that's because I really had no idea what to expect, aside from seeing his loveliness Shia LeBeouf.

But it wasn't Shia who held me fast in my seat, breathe shallow and eyes glued to the screen. Get ready, 'cause I'm about to get full-on "girl" here...

It would be that fine, delicious hunk of grade A prime actor, Tom Hardy.

I'm watching this guy just eat up the screen in every scene he's in, and all I can think of is, "Who the hell is Tom Hardy?"

I had to IMDB him to find out he has been in a myriad of movies I've seen, but obviously overlooked his hotness in.

He played Bane in the latest Batman. WHA???? Well, gross, I'll overlook that.

But, he was also in RocknRolla, Layer Cake and Black Hawk Down, all fine flicks but I cannot place his characters for the life of me.

How could I have missed his big, beautiful lips and gravely voice? Yup, again with the girlie-talk.

In short, "Lawless" is based on the true story of the three Bondurant brothers in 1930's Depression-era Franklin County, Virginia, which happended to be the moonshine capitol of the US at the time. It's full of grime, hard-scrabble money-making bootlegging and the three brothers must take on a dandy/fancy Special Deputy played to a disgusting hilt by Guy Pearce. The bile that this guy brings to the back of the throat is vomit-inducing. Seriously. Just the hair alone had me looking away anytime he came on screen.

It's a very good story, all of the actors do a fine job, and the ending is one of the best I've seen in a movie in quite some time. Aside from Hardy and Shia, Gary Oldman and Jessica Chastain have good filler parts. But what took this movie from a B to an A for me, what kept me watching through the more quiet parts, was Tom Hardy.

His performance was eloquent, strong, forceful and steadfast. And yeah, sexy It was also very funny at times, and his character provided what little humor that could be held during what felt like a very real portrayal of what was historically a tough time for most.

Be warned that this is a violent movie - the sound effects are spot-on and cringe-inducing, and the visual violence almost equals what can be heard.

But also be warned that Tom Hardy migt make you swoon, ladies. Just sayin'.

Movie Review - The Descendants

I'm baffled as to why critics are deeming this the best film of the year.

It blew. Far and wide.

I'm a genuine Clooney fan. The only movie I haven't seen of his yet is "The American" and I will soon. Why? Because I need to wipe my memory of the steaming pile of shit that was "The Descendants."

To sum it up:

Tragic accident. Coma. Indifference. Cheating. Clooney attempting to run in Docksiders. Anger. Confrontation. Sadness. Death. Ice Cream. Credits.

The movie was so damn boring. Clooney's character felt very one-dimensional, which many reviews are touting the opposite. This movie TRIED very hard to be "real" but in my opinion it fell extremely short of that.

It was also extremely depressing. So much so, that I got into a funk that lasted for hours. And yeah, that's on me, but I would've been fine and dandy had I need seen that stupid movie.

Am I letting my mood cloud my judgement, my review? Nope. I really went into this with an open mind.

The only thing that saved the movie for me was watching Clooney reach a level of acting I hadn't seen from him before - he cried.

I liked that. I know he has range as an actor. Now, for me, he has depth.

I wouldn't even spend a Red Box $1 on this.

I cannot recommend this movie.

Consider yourself warned.

Movie Review - Melancholia

Melancholia is, by far, my favorite Von Trier film. And, by far, one of my favorite films of the year.

I'm a "light" fan of Kirsten Dunst, meaning I enjoy her acting but will not rush to see her in a film. There has to be more than just KiKi to get me excited.

After this film, I've changed my tune towards her acting. She was superb. Portraying a character who suffers from mental illness and has a major depressive episode is something she does deftly. There is no victim or hero in her character - she is who she is, and it's clearly evident in her portrayal. What I most loved about her in this film is how seamlessly she transitioned between scenes & showing the audience her feelings - she made a connection with the audience (me) that I search for from main characters in most films and am usually let down.

Supportive characters Kiefer Sutherland, Stellan Skarsgard, Alexander Skarsgard, John Hurt and Charlotte Rampling all give very good performances - they are woven into the story perfectly, and however short their face-time, they are definitive to the story. No fodder at all - very rich, tasty treats that pop up throughout.

Charlotte Gainsbourg as Kirsten's sister, did a fine job of playing a sister dealing with a broken family, while trying to keep her own afloat. If anyone is a victim here, it's her, by all counts - of herself, mostly. While Kirsten is the main play, Charlotte could be considered a second main - the film is broken down into two parts, "Justine" which is Kirsten's character, and "Claire", which is Charlotte's character.

The cinematography is breathtaking - I know this sounds corny but if there is a better word for how lush this entire movie feels, give it to me and I'll gladly use it. The opening scenes, however "artsy" you may categorize them, are like melted warm butter for your eyes. The music that permeates the film is fitting, like a warm onesy for the adult movie-goer. It's a combination that is intoxicating.

I gush. I know. But I truly liked this film.

It was filmed in Sweden, primarily at Tjolöholm Castle, which is on my list of places on earth I must visit. It's like a dream. Really. It is.

The plot is this - Kirsten's character getting married, and at the same time a planet called Melancholia "might" be hurtling towards a collision with earth. Angst, and more angst, horseback riding, marriage strife, meals on the terrace, a potential deadly world event, a couple baths, and the end. If you want more deets, go here.

I'm not going to spoil this for you by giving away the very surprising ending. What I will say is that this movie is a journey. It is spying inside the mind of mental illness. It is spying inside of failed and flawed marriages. It is peeking behind the curtain of a filmmaker's dreamscape. And I'm so glad that Von Trier decided to share this with us.

It is also a disaster film, but maybe not in the true meaning of the word.

Check it out.

Super 8 - good, not great

I saw Super 8 this weekend.

It was good, but not great.

A very cool premise - young filmmakers shooting a low-budget zombie movie using a Super 8 camera stumble upon a secret the military has been trying to keep undercover for many years.

The pull and promise of this movie isn't so much the monster, but rather friendship, overcoming tragedy and the innocence, purity and goodness of youth.

It missed the mark a bit. Perhaps it's because I kept comparing it to the Goonies and Stand By Me, which in my opinion are two of the best young-buddy movies of all time. The actors playing the two main characters - the young boy and girl - were outstanding. Really, really good performances by both. But the main supporting characters - the dads and the boy director - just didn't have me feeling anything. And the other young boys who made up the rest of the motley film crew didn't get enough depth for us to really feel anything for them.

The flow throughout the film never faltered - it was a very smooth production, no huge plot holes. The ending was a little shrink-wrapped for my taste, but it really wasn't important at that point.

4 out of 5 stars. A good summer flick.

Oh, and stay for the credits. You'll be further entertained.