Le Week-End: Or Is It Just The End?

When older married couple Nick (Jim Broadbent) and Meg (Lindsay Duncan) go on a trip to Paris for the weekend, they do so intending to try and save (or maybe end) their 30-years-long marriage.  Meg sees Nick as a needy man that is overly dependent on her, and Nick seems terrified of Meg, who seems nearly bipolar at most times. As each scene unfolds, it becomes increasingly difficult to figure out whether they will stay together or decide to split up.

But hey, at least they're in Paris

Relationships can be so messy. Meg seems tired of her marriage to Nick, but she still loves him and 30 years of marriage gives them a bond that can't be broken without at least trying to fix it. When we first meet her, she comes off as a bit of an ice queen. Unsatisfied with the hotel that her husband has picked, she leads them to a ritzy looking one far about their budget and wastes a big chunk of their money taking a tour of the city from a random cab driver. Throughout the movie, she goes back and forth between moments where she's almost coy with him and moments where she's horrible to him, testing how much he'll take. She also seems as though she's trying to grasp a vitality that she's lost, but in trying to regain it, she thinks she has to separate herself from Nick.

During a sweet moment where she offers to buy his books

And poor Nick. So in love with his wife, he seems terrified of her ever-changing moods. When she voices unhappiness, he just seems like he's in despair but has no idea how to fix it. Nick seems, in a word, lost. His whole life seems to be unraveling and he doesn't know what to do about it.

"I have no idea what I'm doing."

This film was cool in showing the contrasting emotions between the two of them. At times they seem like teenagers in love, throwing themselves at each other and goofing off like old pals. And other times their animosity towards each other is frightening, like they're out for blood. This dichotomy in their relationship keeps the movie interesting, as they try to figure out what it is they truly want to do about their marriage. And really you have no clue how it's going to end until most of the movie is over with.

Supporting actor Jeff Goldblum makes a fine and absurd addition to the conflict in this, providing levity at moments where it is desperately needed.

What a card.

Interesting perspective on the way relationships grow and deteriorate with age, especially in relation to Baby Boomers. The movie makes a very purposeful nod to people educated during that time, and questions whether their lives have lived up to the lofty expectations they had when they were young.

7 outa 10. It really pulls through with a strong, solid ending that I loved.

12 Years a Slave: Hard to Watch for New Reasons

Imagine the worst thing that has ever happened to you, happening every day for twelve years. Then subtract your house, your clothes, all of your creature comforts, and all of your free will.  This is what 12 Years a Slave is.

Solomon Northup is a musician who lives in Saratoga, NY with his wife and two kids. When his wife and kids go away to cook for a big event for a few weeks, Solomon is approached by two men who convince him to come on tour with their "circus" troupe in Washington DC as a musician, assuring him that he'll be handsomely compensated for his work. But after Solomon eats a meal with them and gets sick (from drugged wine), the next day he wakes up shackled to a wall. Trying to reason with his captors, he tells them he's free and threatens to press charges. But his papers have been stolen and, being in the South, the chances of anyone believing his story are nonexistent. The next twelve years he works as a slave, first on a property with a kind (ish) master, and then next with a raving lunatic. The movie serves as a brutal reminder of the horrors of slavery.

I mean, even when you read the title of this movie, you know it's going to be rough. Personally, I'm very happy I had the foresight to bring tissues this morning. But the subject matter is made infinitely more infuriating when your coming from a somewhat sympathetic view of the main character. I have never been a slave, and (well, who knows with the government the way it is at this point in time) I will never be a slave. However, as someone with a decent social standing and a job that pays the bills, I cannot imagine waking up chained to a wall, sold to another human being, and not being allowed to have an opinion about anything anymore.  This is where 12 Years a Slave really messes you up.

Poor guy probably never trusted anyone ever again

It's absolutely horrifying to think that we live in a country where this used to be commonplace, and the movie is very faithful with it all. On an errand, Solomon veers off the beaten path in a moment of hope that he'll be able to run away, only to be met by a lynch mob that only leaves him alone because they see that he's owned by someone. How. Did. People. Get. So. Awful.

But they delve into this issue too. As one character mentions, white men who own slaves either have to put the moral element somewhere in their mind tucked away and not think about it, or else they have to drive it away with whatever means necessary. Solomon's first master is an example of the former. Master Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a kind man. Solomon is at first candid with him, sharing ideas of how to maximize the transportation of their timber. And he is even admired for being a smart man.

And gets a free violin.

But when a jealous and ignorant assistant to the overseer tries to mess with him, Solomon has no idea how to be passive and then has to move to his next master, Master Crazy (Epps). Epps (played by Michael Fassbender) gives people lashes when they don't pick as much cotton as they did the day before. He wakes up the slaves in the middle of the night and orders them to dance around his living room (on more than one occasion). He appears once or twice without pants on. And his temperament is absolutely poisonous.

Including him almost murdering Solomon at a few different times.

Perhaps the thing that makes this movie so extremely hard to watch is the fact that no one, not even nice people, will help him. Placing his trust in others, Solomon is frequently burned, and in increasingly extreme ways. At times you see that he feels totally helpless, but never is he completely resigned to his fate as a slave. Throughout, he tries to find ways to remind himself of who is truly is underneath the guise of "Platt," his slave name.

Another incredibly well-acted element is the transition that he has to make between being the educated man that he is and saving his own life by feigning ignorance. While in the beginning he uses an elevated vocabulary, by the end of the film you can hear a Southern drawl come to him naturally, and he chooses his words to be careful and simple. Very, very heartbreakingly well-acted by Chiwetel Ejiofor. Well done, sir.

8 outa 10. Cried myself dry.

The Immigrant: Fresh Take on an Old Subject

Screening #2 yesterday was James Gray's The Immigrant. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster day. But this movie really had some wonderful elements to it.

I mean any movie with this dynamic duo, how can

you go wrong?

The movie is set in 1921 and begins with a character named Ewa (No, not Ay-wa. she's Polish, so it's Ay-VA. Philistines...I definitely did not make that mistake when I was reading the write-up of the plot...probably...). Ewa and her sister Magda have just arrived on Ellis Island from Poland, going through customs when Magda is apprehended by the medical examiners and taken to the hospital to recover before she can go through. Ewa carries on alone, but after giving the address of the family member with whom she'd planned on staying, she's informed that their address is invalid and that since she'll have nowhere to stay she'll likely become the state's problem. With this in mind, she's sent to be deported. But then! As luck would have it, a gentleman named Bruno takes pity on her and tells her that he can help her get through customs. Illegally sneaking her away, he then takes her to his place of residence, where it begins to come clear that his plans for her may be questionable. A strong Catholic with a decent upbringing, Ewa tries to leave, but becomes trapped by her lack of papers and money. She begins to earn money at Bruno's "theater" and he ends up pimping her out so that she can pay for her sister's care and also for her safe delivery to New York City. The story is a fascinating perspective on what life was like for an attractive immigrant woman at the time.

Seriously, every man in this movie loses his mind over this girl.

So, the plot is a bit complicated, but there is so much complexity to these characters that it becomes a little difficult to sort out the larger details. The driving forces in this movie are Ewa (played by Marion Cotillard) and Bruno (played by Joaquin Phoenix). But interestingly, their characters are atypical of this sort of film. In most movies, women put in the position of becoming prostitutes against their will will end up drunks with broken spirits resigned to their fates. But Ewa is a fortress of a character. Instead of becoming weakened by her situation, she is powerfully driven by the thought of getting her sister out. As a result, she makes it clear that she hates herself for doing what she's doing, but she keeps her head high, makes sure she's getting paid her cut, and perseveres. By contrast, the character of Bruno is not the gangster that we so often see in movies about this era. Driven by his love and admiration for Ewa, Bruno more than once makes a fool of himself to guarantee that she stays with him. And his temper is a spectacle. But because of this, it's hard to polarize him against her as a bad guy. Especially towards the end, when their characters become so starkly contrasted with the people we meet at the beginning. Great acting!

So good.

James Gray, during the Q&A following the film, made a comment that the movie is supposed to be somewhat operatic. And it is. The focus on the woman's point of view makes it so. Most movies set in the 1920s that I've seen have been centered around a gangster, tommy guns and booze galore. But that isn't this movie's agenda. Ewa's point of view becomes so powerful that it really gives you an interesting look at how awful it must've been to be a woman back then. And an immigrant in general.

This one is a little rough to watch in some ways, but the character complexity in it is incredible. A fascinating look at archaic gender stereotypes, skewed morality used as a weapon to treat people cruelly, and the general problems of being an immigrant in 1921. Well done, James Gray! A total "direct shot to the heart."

8 outa 10.

Trailer's not out yet, but I found this clip:

**EDIT**

Exclusive trailer has gone live on Yahoo Movies today!

https://movies.yahoo.com/video/immigrant-trailer-155811974.html

About Time (and Also About Love)

So first up on yesterday's schedule was a noon screening of About Love, Richard Curtis's latest. As a fan of Love Actually (like most other humans with souls), I was excited by the premise of this movie, which cleverly blends lessons about human love with the exceptional addition of time travel.

The movie is about the life of Tim (Domhnall Gleeson, who you might recognize from Harry Potter). When he turns 21, his father calls him down for a chat and reveals to him that the men in their family have the ability to travel through time. The plot then follows Tim as he uses this extraordinary ability to try and make the most of his life, perfecting interactions with those around him and making the most out of the relationships he has with the various people in his life.

God I love you people.

It really must be said that Richard Curtis is a scholar on the cinematic realism of love. Tim's journey goes effortlessly from a young man who uses this talent (rather hilariously) to try and nab a girlfriend to a grown man trying to make sure that the lives of the people he loves are reaching their full potential. It gives commentary on the hardest things there are to do for the people we love (which is so often just simply having faith that they'll be able to know what's best for themselves) while simply and poetically celebrating how much FUN real love can be as well. Romantic love between Tim and Mary (Rachel McAdams), a son's love for his father (played by Bill Nighy, who I LOVE IN EVERYTHING), a brother's love for his sister (Lydia Wilson), a person's love for his friends, a father's love for his daughter, and every other kind of relationship I can think of.

Aaaand the tears were free-flowing at this point.

While Tim uses time travel to try to make his life perfect, they don't really dabble with the technicalities of it (which can get really messy if you think about it too much). The film focuses more on Tim's conscious decisions rather than the "he stepped half an inch to the left and it changed his life!" variety of consequences. The time travel element is more a way to reflect on the consequences of the everyday decisions that we make, not so much material from the sci-fi genre.

Soooo, you gotta get outa here, Tardis. No sci-fi elements in this one.
(Anyone? No? Okay...)

The sharp sense of humor that works so brilliantly with Love Actually is in this as well, keeping the emotion from getting too heavy and bogging down the film. Tim as a character is also just so damn likeable. Actually, everyone in this movie was. Especially the members of Tim's immediate family. Tim outlines them all within the first ten minutes of the movie and his descriptions of them all hold perfectly throughout. His father is scholarly and bookish and always reading. His mother is "rectangular" and "bases her fashion choices on the queen." His sister, Kit Kat, is (and I loved this) a "nature thing," so-called because of her childlike emotions and actions. And the romantic love of his life, Mary, is absolutely adorable.

You got a real family of winners, Tim.

His relationships with these people change as he becomes older and his own life changes, but the love they have for each other is so tangible that it makes this quick view of his life a real treat. The cinematography only serves to enhance this, too. Very romantically filmed with lots of warm lighting, beach scenes, and quirky characters. Keeps the whole thing feeling very timeless.

Give me your life right now.

Many a sentimental, humorous moment and extremely enjoyable. If you need a lesson on how to live your life, watch this movie.

9.5 outa 10. .5 due to Bill Nighy's performance.

Comes out November 1st!

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty: A Daydreamer's Dream

Well I somehow made it to the press screening and worldwide premiere (!) of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty despite missing my 6:05 a.m. bus, making my boyfriend drive me 40 minutes to Hamilton, taking the train in, cabbing my way up to the Lincoln Film Center, lugging an overstuffed backpack and a canvas bag holding a laptop and copious amounts of writing materials, and waiting in line for two hours for a good seat.

Yes, we rather got off to a bumpy start.

BUT! Despite this somewhat hectic morning and having only gotten 4 and a half hours of sleep, I'm happy to report that nothing could keep me from staying awake and totally captivated throughout this movie. (The free Diet Coke also helped.) Also got to enjoy a press conference after the movie with some of the cast, including Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Steve Conrad (the writer, also responsible for movies such as The Weather Man and The Pursuit of Happyness).

(Also at one point they were all ten feet away from me as they

were waiting to be announced!)

So the plot of the movie revolves around Walter Mitty, an ordinary guy that sometimes lets his imagination run away with him. Desperately failing to connect to those around him, he retreats to his imagination looking for a more exciting way in which various situations could play out. When the story begins, he is working for Time Magazine (with borrowed logo from the actual company), who is making the transition from print to online (sadly mirroring the actual company's real-life decision in 2009). But on the day he receives news of this looming transition, he also receives a gift from amazing mythical photographer Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn), who gifts him with a last roll of film and a hand-picked image for Time's last cover.

The only problem is, Walter can't find it.

The story then blossoms into Walter Mitty breaking out of the office and the city that he's rarely left in an adventure to find the lost negative. Along the way, he gets help from office colleague Cheryl, reconnects with his family and his past, and finally gets to do the exciting things he's always dreamed about.

Caught mid-daydream. 

I was SO EXCITED to have the opportunity to see this movie. An avid fan of the original story upon which the movie is based, "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" by James Thurber, and also the 1950s movie starring Danny Kaye, I was interested to see what direction it would take. (Additionally, the trailer showcases the one most beautiful sequences in the film, which just makes you want to quit real life and travel the world.)

I mean come on, who doesn't want to longboard in Greenland?

The first half of the movie fully delivered what I wanted to get from it. We get to see all of the impossibly amazing things that Mitty gets to do in his mind, which so sharply contrast his humdrum existence, that they're simultaneously captivating and hilarious. With short mind-wanderings into things like a Matrix-esque fight with his boss, to jumping into a third-floor apartment building that's on fire, to (my personal favorite) a scene in which he imagines he and Cheryl growing old together despite him having "Benjamin Button Disease" (hilarious). These scenes really keep the movie funny, and carry a tongue in cheek look at, really, what a lot of blockbuster movies look like.

But this is not your grandfather's Walter Mitty. Unlike Danny Kaye's hilarious romp from the 50s, this movie really has Mitty searching for his own identity, and reaching out for a part of his personality that he's kept muffled for decades. As my BFF Ben Stiller said (yes, I can say that now), they really wanted to step away from Danny Kaye's version of the character, and embrace a Mitty whose vivid imagination was more a yearning for things that he wanted to do and less of a retreat from the real world.

The only problem I have with this new take, however, is that it takes away from what makes the material so entertaining. By adding depth to the character of Walter Mitty, you give him purpose yes, but you subtract some of the entertainment value, which is a shame because that's where Stiller and Wiig both really shine. In fact, their interactions in his fantasies were what really stood out to me and gave them believable chemistry. In general, the best parts of this movie were the imagination scenes in the beginning, but about halfway through they're kind of done with that and begin putting Mitty in real-life adventure situations. Which is cool, but then the movie ends with his character being so different that it creates a bit of a disconnect from the original story.

I feel like we're growing apart...

I did love the cinematography and the soundtrack, though. There are a lot of folksy indie bands on there that give you some really inspirational tunes. Additionally, the locations where they chose to shoot were absolutely breathtaking. Scenes shot in Greenland and Iceland are especially stunning. When asked why they chose these two locations (because they seem a bit...less traveled), Stiller remarked that they wanted the landscape to seem like something people had never really seen before. Which is a good point because who goes to Greenland?

Kind of takes "small town" to a new level, no?

7.5 outa 10. I very much enjoyed it but I'm a little disappointed we couldn't see more of Mitty's imagination.

Comes out on Christmas!

And just for good measure (clearly we have two completely different movies here...)

I'm Alive and I Made It Here

Just a post to clarify that I am indeed alive and in New York City covering the NY Film Festival.

Since I'm seeing SO MANY movies this week, I'm thinking it may be best to just write a post for each of the movies that I see instead of doing it day by day because those posts would be entirely too long and probably include way too much info about how you shouldn't wear heeled boots while trekking across the city with your 20 lb backpack and 15 lb canvas bag.

Just sayin'. That is how we are going to proceed with this situation.

New York Film Festival Coverage Begins Tomorrow!

Hey y'all. Revving up for the NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL tomorrow! Wish I could've been there this past week but hey, I'm an adult, I got bills to pay, I got my own mouth to feed and I ain't got time to go gallavantin' off to every film festival that comes knocking at my door!

Ya whippersnappers!

But there are indeed exceptions to this rule. Like the ones that involve the town of New York City. And press passes. And those are things worth taking off work for.

So starting tomorrow, get ready to have your faces blown off by reviews of movies that you probably haven't even heard of yet! (Depending on if you're as pokey as I am with tracking down YouTube trailers...)

In the meantime, may the corn be with you.

Yep. This corn.