In 2012 my New Year's Resolution is to watch a new movie (and by new, I mean a movie I've never seen before...which is quite a few) every week. I figured I'd keep a list of everything I've seen and offer a rating and two sentence review.
Feel free to add your comments if you've seen the same film!
THE RATING SYSTEM:
1 star- Steaming Pile of Poo
2 stars- Had some redeeming aspects
3 stars- I liked it!
4 stars- I loved it!
THE LIST:
1. Young Adult
2. A Dangerous Method
3. My Week With Marilyn
4. Ballerina
5. Enlighten Up
6. Game Change
7. Being Elmo-A Puppeteers Journey
8. Mystic Pizza
9. Dumbstruck
THE BRIEF REVIEW:
1. YOUNG ADULT 2 stars
While well written and fantastically performed, I kinda hated this film. There was nothing redeeming about Charlize Therons character, and it made the film feel kinda pointless.
2. A DANGEROUS METHOD 3 stars
Keira Knightly, please eat a sandwich, you are way too skinny!! A bit of a disconnect with the "crazy" performance, but that's ok, you were probably really hungry when you shot that scene. Otherwise I thought you and your co-stars were brilliant! Great writing, direction. I really liked this film.
3. MY WEEK WITH MARILYN 3 stars
What is it that is so fascinating about Marilyn Monroe? I could watch her in just about anything and watching Michelle Williams play Marilyn was no exception. The rest of the cast was equally enticing. The story was nice, but a little too neat. Based on a true story and told from the author's point of view, I felt like he wasn't really telling us the whole story and there was something far more interesting and deeper that occured.
4. BALLERINA 4 stars
I'm a sucker for a good (and brief) documentary. Ballerina follows five dancers in the Kirov Ballet from their training to their professional careers around the globe. It was fascinating. I thought Abby Lee Miller was insane, but y'all, these girls start training at this special ballet school when their ten...and they have to audition topless. Yes, you heard me correctly. There was a particularly creepy moment when the very old male ballet teacher was contorting said topless girls in various positions. Ick. Otherwise, totally worth watching!!
5. ENLIGHTEN UP 3 stars
Finally got around to watching this yoga documentary that I had put in my Netflix queue back when I did my 30 day challenge. This documentary follows a yoga skeptic on his quest to discover what yoga really is and pursue enlightenment. The answer, he discovers, is that it just can't be summed up into a neat little package. He doesn't find enlightenment, but in the end he does find peace of mind. Worth watching on a rainy day.
6. GAME CHANGE 3 stars
Can we just pass out the Emmy's and Golden Globes now, cause seriously there were some fantastic performances in this film. I have always been fascinated with Sarah Palin and her sudden and frightening rise to fame. This film captured a campaign desperate for a break, and the rash and fatal decision to bring Palin on as McCain's running mate. Um, they found Palin via YouTube search. The campaign quickly realizes their mistake as Palin teeters on the verge of a nervous breakdown, only to pull through and become a delusional and power hungry @#$%^. Palin's journey from a simple "hockey" mom who just wanted to make a difference, to a soulless politician is mesmerizing. For a film clearly made by the left (HBO Films) McCain is portrayed in a very sympathetic and honest light (although his war injury to his arm is never acknowledged or depicted.) Worth seeing!
7. BEING ELMO-A PUPPETEER'S JOURNEY 4 stars
As someone who spends a significant amount of time subjected children's television, I hate Elmo. So when this popped up on my Netflix cue, the cynic in me just couldn't resist watching the journey of the creation of an Emmy award winning, gazillionaire puppet. An hour and twenty minutes later the BF and I were a tear-stained mess. Kevin Clash, the puppeteer who gave Elmo a voice and a soul, is the focus of the film. His story is incredibly heartwarming, and his success is built on a tremendous amount of passion, love, and hard work. He was working with minor characters on Sesame Street, when legendary puppeteer Richard Hunt, frustrated with a puppet he'd been assigned, threw said puppet across the table to Kevin. Hunt challenged Kevin to create something out of what he thought was a useless puppet. Recalling how puppeteer Frank Oz had once told him that each puppet has one unique quality that really makes them come alive, Kevin did some research. By hanging out with the kids at the daycare his mom ran, he decided that Elmo's quality was love. Pure, innocent and joyful love. I won't spoil the rest of the story, but this documentary is a must-see! Um, I love Elmo now. Those are words I never thought I'd say.
8. MYSTIC PIZZA 1 star
Apparently everyone has seen this film, and I was feeling left out. So against my better judgement I watched Mystic Pizza. In addition to the ridiculously predictable plot, this boring "coming-of-age" dramady also wants me to buy that Julia Roberts is Portuguese? Ugh. A harsh reminder of why I hate rom-coms.
9. DUMBSTRUCK 2 stars
Bless their hearts. That's really all I can say about this cringe inducing documentary that follows six ventriloquists on their quest for success. Only two seem to have any actual talent and aptitude for this difficult art form. The rest of the subjects were a gaggle of sadly delusional misfits that hid behind the alter ego of their puppets. However, watching Terry Fator go from unknown to one of Vegas' top paid entertainers was touching. Watch Being Elmo instead.
10. GOING DOWN IN LA LA LAND 3 stars
Ok, so this review is going to be all sorts of biased. There is a new genre of film emerging in mainstream entertainment. I'm thankful that it's emerging because it means that we, collectively, as a people are growing and becoming more accepting and open minded. This genre is the gay romantic comedy. I'm also grateful that my ridiculously talented and funny friend, Allison Lane, is at the forefront of it. I witnessed her comedic brilliance last night while I watched this film in the Grauman's Chinese complex, and I even got a little goose-bumpy and teary when her name appeared at on the screen at the top of the film. It's nice to see talented people get the recognition and opportunity they deserve. Anywho...the plot. Adam is an actor who's new to Los Angeles. He can't get a day job, can't find acting work, so he ends up working as a receptionist at a gay porn company. Of course one thing leads to another and he ends up doing porn, falling in love with a crack head and then digging himself out of the mess he's created. Allison plays his BFF, roommate and struggling fame seeker, and serves as the films comedic relief. There was lots of nudity and some steamy sex scenes, which, as a straight person made me want the film to just get on with it (hmm, is this how gay people have felt watching "straight" romcoms for the past 50 years). But, it serves it's genre well and has a nice little message in the end. Kudos to everyone involved!



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