Amelia

Right, so before any of you say anything, no, it's not Amélie and its not by the French.

Amelia is the story of Amelia Earhart, one of the most influential female pilots ever to walk the surface of our beloved earth. She was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic and the first woman to fly across the Atlantic solo.

I had trouble placing this film in my mind, which was torn when I was watching it. There was something about it that just made me want to leave, yet there was a lot to keep my eyes glued to the screen. It was one of those bittersweet moments in life where you are not entirely sure how or what to feel.

Looking at the cast on paper, I am surprised to realise in hindsight that I was bored for most of the film. Hilary Swank accompanied by Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor, who often seems to creep up in the films I see recently, should be more than enough to make my seat have hands all of a sudden. Hands that pin me down and slap me around every time I seem to lose focus. Yet this was not the case. Swank played a solid role. In fact, many times during Amelia, I was thinking to myself how good she was. I have seen her in Million Dollar Baby and P.S. I Love You, but somehow, as good as Million Dollar Baby was, I was more impressed with here in this.

At this point I can't stop pondering about what the sweet part in the bittersweet was. Why do I still struggle putting the film behind me and stop thinking about it. Normally, when I see a good role in a mediocre (read: rubbish) film, I think to myself: "what a waste of talent, C'mon son!!! get your crap together" and go back to feeding Mars bars to pelicans. This time, I cant.

The film talks about a soul that wishes to roam free. Take the silver bird and fly it into the sunset for as long as it will carry her. With everything else out of her mind but her destination. It is a swansong to the roaming hearts that feel imprisonment where there is comfort, struggle where there is safety. The trouble with these hearts often is though, that they forget where their home is. I live by "home is where the heart is" so I guess for Miss Earhart, home was in the cockpit of the silver bird. And who am I to judge such a heart? My question though, is what happens when you lose sight of your home... and your destination?

The Boys Are Back

What happens when with a blink of an eye everything in your life changes? When the woman you love is like water slipping through your fingers and there is nothing you can do about it? When you have to explain to your little son why mummy is dying? When you don't know how to comfort him because you have never been around?

When this happens to Joe Warr (Clive Owen), his whole life changes along with every relationship he has with his close ones. How do you solve problems in a child's head when understanding anything going on in there is like explaining the physics behind an airplane to a geko? Joe adopts a simple rule: "Just say yes."

This is a heartwarming story of fathers and sons and the unity that forms when life decides to challenge us. It reinforces my view of of whatever works (no quote to Woody Allen's last film intended) because often there is no right or wrong in life. It's just... whatever works. When your kid needs to turn your house into a pool, not that I am saying this is good parenting, let him.

Major kudos to Scott Hicks, who to me, as unprofessional as my view may be, is completely unknown. He managed to direct this to a standard that shuts me up and that really is good, because I have verbal diarrhea which will now be aimed at the cast, the poor things. I appreciated Clive Owen with the understanding that most of his role involved saying nothing and looking as miserable as a basset-hound witnessing his food being stolen. Having said that, often it is what is left unsaid that tells a million words and being quiet the real difficulty. I feel the story made the acting, which is never too much to an actor's credit. However, the best actor, much like the best design, is invisible. Pick your route to go down, one way or the other the lead was solid and he deserves credit.

The film was well paced to preserve the underlying taste of sadness and the personal tragedy of those involved while depicting them dealing with their sorrow. It also makes me think of the roles we play in life and in other peoples' lives. How prepared are we to adapt a new role, but more importantly, how willing are we to let the role change us? Owen's character said that saying yes is more difficult than saying no and that because saying yes means we need to change something in ourselves. We need to make an effort.

I definitely recommend this, time and money well spent.

More Than A Game

When I am about to watch a film, I am normally well aware of what I am about to watch. And so I thought this time. I couldn't be further from the truth. Again. Luckily, what I saw was better than what I expected.

I was expecting the story of a bunch of angry kids from a tough neighborhood, playing ball, being rubbish, getting amazing at it, getting cocky, being slapped around by the coach and then missing a last second shot to go down in history, leaving the viewer heartbroken for these boys. So yes, I was expecting to see Coach Carter again.

But this is not a story about basketball, it's a story about people. About relationships and friendship. I was expecting LeBron James to do all the talking and could not have been happier when I found the story being revealed from the perspective of the coach, Dru Joyce II. I was charmed by the line at the end as well, downplaying the role of the superstar in the film. Quote: "Lebron found seasonal work in Cleveland". Understatement of the year.

Another aspect of this film, that I found intriguing and somewhat unlike your typical sports-cinderella story was the humbleness of these people. Call me on this one if you think I am wrong, and I am ignoring the whole Hummer business at this point, but listening to them talk about a life that most of us would see as utopian in a bad way, and still making it sound as the most natural thing in life is what stuns me. I think this is where the balance in the world lies, because some of the players in the NBA get paid sums we would not be able to comprehend. So should a person who has not seen what it is like to own nothing in life be in that position... I would imagine them being the most unpleasant person in the world.

Now, then. Back to the Humvee incident. For a 17-year old "boy" (a word only used because of the relative value of the number, as mentally and physically, the 17-year-old LeBron was more of a man than most 30 year olds) to be on the cover of the SI and still be a part of a team? Unbelievable? I think so. All the attention he got while he was still at school and remained focused on his team and friends. Wow, that is all I can say - wow. I read an article on his pregame routine the other day and I find it interesting that every gameday, he still listens to the song the listened to together as the fab-five and his best friend from the group gets a handshake before any of his teammates once the names have been called out in the arena.

This goes to show that it truly is a film about relationships and things that are more than a game of basketball. However, if this world sports superstar is not someone you take interest in, there is no point in you watching the film. If the opposite is the case, you would be stupid not to.

Trainspotting

So I finally took the time to watch this and to my viewing pleasure, I wasn't disappointed.

Right from the title sequence you get the feeling you aren't in for an easy one and the message will be hit home hard. Brutally, without any need for illustration, but with the full filth that the message carries. It's a story of heroin and the life it induces.

My friend suggested this to me to change my perception of Ewan McGregor that is so far highly influenced by his role in Moulin Rouge. And to his credit, I must say my perception has been changed despite the difficulty of removing the image of the actor singing and dancing away almost maniacally in more than bizarre scenes. Then again, I guess it is difficult to remove such things from your brain, much like any other traumatizing event.

However, in my opinion, it was the dialogue between his narrating and acting which made the role so enjoyable to watch. Words describing the horrors of the mind whilst the actor delivers the cool, almost unconscious state of the addict who is close to losing all contact with the real world. Other names worth mentioning from the cast include Robert Carlyle, who, in comparison with his later roles in the 51st State and The Full Monty has clearly delivered best in Trainspotting.

What really impressed me throughout the film was the certain blurry reality of an addiction-led life, which was conveyed ever so well through screenplay, narration and camerawork. Unconventional and sometimes even obscure camera angles introduced the viewer to the twisted perspective of the characters' lives. The toilet sequence and a few other scenes were a perfect example of the brilliant way the film depicted the transfer of the individual from one state of mind to another. This reminded me of The Science of Sleep where the main character was fluctuating between being awake and being asleep, here Renton was moving from sober to high to sober to high. Well, you get the picture.

I think this film is a perfect depiction of how different the lives and values of addicts are to non-addicts and it digs deep to illustrate the point graphically. This morning I saw a case on the Jeremy Kyle Show where a 40 year old mother bought and smoked heroin with her 14 year old daughter. At which point Ewan's voice keeps saying "choose life" in my head and I keep thinking about what goes on in a person's head who would do such a thing. Is there anything in her head at all? Is she capable of thought?

I'm glad I saw this film and would recommend it if anyone asked me, but if you are going to watch it, make sure you have the right mindset first, because you will be in for a heavy, but enjoyable night.

The Lovely Bones

I saw this a few days ago and being bedridden, I now have the time to write the review. Also, I think this is the kind of film you need to think about before saying anything.

I know there is quite a lot of hype around this film and having read a review or two before seeing it I was somewhat unsure what to expect. The trouble was that I was expecting a serious and deep film, but what I got was more cartoony and "trippy" than I would ever have expected.

Those of you, who have read the book ignore this, but those who have the reading ability of a shortsighted walrus, like myself, the film is about a teenaged girl in the 70s who is raped and killed. Nothing new here, huh. However, the story takes an interesting twist as the story is told from her perspective as she watches over her parents trying to find the killer. When I was told this, I was expecting something along the lines of Taken, an amazing film by the way. Yet, The Lovely Bones adopts a completely new approach, which is a mixture of the feelings of Susie, the victim, and those of her parents. It is a story of how a little girl overcomes personal trauma and the feelings of detest towards her killer/rapist and how a family fights the turmoil of losing a sister, a daughter.

The acting leaves something to be wished for, my opinion on this being mainly influenced by Mark Wahlberg having the same ability to act different characters as a dead donkey. Not to be harsh towards the man, but I can't really say he is versatile and watching him in The Lovely Bones was like watching Max Payne all over again. There is something about these roles that suits him so well, but looking at the bigger picture, I sadly can't appreciate him as an A-list actor.

I also failed to appreciate the CG scenes of Susie in the in-betweeny bit, leaving earth but not reaching heaven yet. I think the concept of telling the story from the victim's perspective is an interesting touch, but the surreal scenes quickly lost their appeal and became more of a distraction and left me craving a more realistic film.

Unconventionally, the killer's identity is revealed as the crime is committed and the viewer has the difficult task of not shouting out how much they hate him and how creepy he looks - all to the credit of Stanley Tucci who definitely was the bright spot of the cast.

At the end of the day - would I recommend it? Yes, I would. But I find it difficult to pin down the reason for this. It isn't a brilliant film, the acting isn't particularly good and it doesn't really deliver much cinematic value. Then again, I'm wrong here and it does have value, but not to the potential the plot offers and thus, not even having read the book, but having discussed this with people who have, I can tell the film is a bit of a failure. And the book remains superior to the film, long live the written word.

Love Happens

So there I was with a few hours to kill and Love Happens in front of me. As you would imagine, I was set to watch a film about two people whose lives collide, there is some sort of difficulty, they "play the game" for a while, cock up and through admitting their love for one another, end up together. Well you are wrong. And so was I.

The only thing Love Happens and the film described above have in common is the shop scene that this film shares with Notting Hill. The only difference between the two being one ending with a painting and the other with a kiss. Everything else is the same, the unexpected entrance, the speech, the quirky shop assistant, the whole concept of a shop for that matter... I'm sure in some countries in the world people get tortured extensively for this kind of a thing.

Acting - let's not go there. Jennifer Aniston played her typical role which to me is as interesting as jam. Quite frankly, I'd prefer jam. I would also take jam over Aaron Eckhart. But that is rather irrelevant. A bit like the acting in this.

I was positively surprised, though, because like I said, I was expecting a wholly different type of film. And if I had any say in the directing, I would have ended it with him dropping the note and leaving. (sorry to be a plot pooper in case anyone decides to watch this film. I hope such a decision isn't based on this review though, because I would not want any of you making the mistake I made and wasting a good two hours of your life) At the end of the day, though, I do not have a say in this and looking at the film the way it was actually made, despite being positively surprised, I would say it's still only a strong 2 out of 5.

My Sister's Keeper

Wow. I think that is an appropriate place to start from. Story of a girl who was conceived so she could donate whatever needed for her sister with leukemia and the chaos within the family caused by her decision not to help her sister and pursue medical emancipation. As you can tell, not the lightest of films so don't expect me to be blasé about it.

First things first though, I absolutely hated Cameron Diaz in this. I hated her with a passion and more often than not, when you hate an actor's/actress' character with a passion it just shows that they have played a good part. And it also happened to be the case here, regardless of my understatement of the year because she truly was brilliant. The rest of the cast did well which is sort of the same as telling a fish it can swim - irrelevant waste of breath. I am, however, excited for Abigail Breslin and am sure to see her career spur off with something perhaps a bit more sophisticated than her latest Zombieland. Even though she fulfilled her role well in that too.

What really pisses me off, though, is the whole time warp scenario. I know I have been over this, but why do directors see the need of doing this? I hope they do realize that it is completely within the realm of possibility to make a brilliant film which has a straightforward timeline. Having said that, I wasn't annoyed by it whilst watching the film. In contrast to the last movie I saw, The Road, I actually felt every "flashback" contributed to the storytelling in a natural way, even though some viewers may find it difficult to follow from time to time. It was not done to the level of ingenuity as in 500 Days of Summer, but it was good.

Lastly, as with such deep films it seems to be the case, it made me think of life. It made me think of the things we cherish in life and what we fight for. Things we are afraid of and what drive us forward. But most of all I thought about death and how wrong most people seem to be about it. Not that I know much about such matters considering my short, 21-year inhabitation of this planet. But what I have learned is that the opposite of death is not life as most people tend to think. It is not life and death, it's birth and death. Those are the opposites and between them is a wonderful thing called life. It doesn't matter how we were born, or how we died, it is how we lived that remains in the hearts of our loved-ones. Long after we are gone.

The Road

Having been bombarded with somewhat rubbish films recently, I am really happy I watched this. It is a heartbreaking story about a journey of survival. Viggo Mortensen plays a father that has to look after his son once momma nature has given up on us and herself. At this point I wonder whether our actions now will result in a similar road unfolding before us one day.

I was impressed with both of the leads, Mortensen had the tall order of depicting emotions of a man who has pretty much everything taken from him, the only reason not to blow his brains into the wasteland being Kodi Smit-McPhee's character. I am undecided which of the two did a better job as Kodi had to play a boy who has no concept of the world as we know it, being raised in hell and yet being the embodiment of whatever was left of humanity and good will. Having said that, the father was the one that witnessed both the worlds and realizing all the things missing from the dilapidated, treacherous surroundings full of cannibals and... well not much else. It is as if the film is a dialogue of two brilliant acts. And I really mean brilliant.

It's dark and gory from time to time so if you are not afraid of nightmares and ready for cinematic brilliance, go take a walk on the road.