3.5 Razors

500 Days of Summer (in 500 words)

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: 500 Days of Summer
  • IMDB: link

500-days-of-summer-poster(500) Days of Summer isn’t your typical date movie. In fact, in many ways it’s almost an anti-date film. Through the eyes of Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon Levitt) we are shown the ups and downs of his relationship with Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel). Those couples looking for a fun romantic evening should choose this one only if they’re very comfortable and confident in their relationship. Otherwise the evening might turn a little more uncomfortable than what you planned.

Rather than giving us a linear look the script, written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, jumps through the timeline of the relationship for maximum effect. Sometimes this provides hilarious juxtaposition, and at other moments you’re allowed to feel Tom’s pain. To help you follow the timeline title cards and narration (provided by Jean-Paul Vignon) are provided.

Without a doubt it’s the cutest film about a doomed relationship I’ve ever seen. Those who have been involved in love affairs where one side feels more passionately than the other will no doubt understand and empathize with Tom’s plight.

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Leverage – The 1st Season

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Leverage – The First Season
  • tv.com: link

leverage-season-one-dvdGrifter. Hacker. Hitter. Thief. Four thieves agree to work under direction of an honest man helping those who can’t help themselves. As the show’s tagline states “sometimes the bad guys make the best good guys.”

Insurance investigator Nate Ford (Timothy Hutton) and four thieves are brought together by an unscrupulous executive (Saul Rubinek) who planned to use them for his own ends. After turning the tables and completing their mission, the team begin to work together as modern day Robin Hoods by going after those who have been taken advantage of by the system and those in power.

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Leverage – The 1st Season Read More »

Doubt

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Doubt
  • IMDB: link

“You haven’t the slightest proof of anything!”
“But I have my certainty.”

At the heart of the film written and directed by John Patrick Shanley, who adapted his play for the screen, is the issue of change vs. the status quo.  Set in the Bronx during the 1960’s the film deals with the conflict between the more liberal priest, Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and the older Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep).

Set between the pair is the good-natured Sister James (Amy Adams) who is the catalyst for the story when her observance of events causes Sister Aloysius to believe, with certainty, that Father Flynn has taken improper advances with a young black student (Joseph Foster).

Is the accusation real, or is it simply an excuse for the traditional nun to get rid of the crazy priest and his new-fangled ideas?  Is there room, for doubt?

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Wanted on DVD

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Wanted
  • IMDB: link

“You know when you have a dream and you’re half-awake, but still in the fringe of your brain?  Then you open you eyes and you’re so damned glad it was a dream?  This was nothing like that.”

Based off Mark Millar’s twisted comic, all-around loser Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) gets tapped to join a secret Fraternity of Assassins after the father he never knew is killed by a rogue member.

Approached by the beautiful Fox (Angelina Jolie), Wesley is trained (beaten up repeatedly and shown how to bend bullets) by the Fraternity and becomes an assassin of fate.

If good story and sound logic is what you are looking for you’ll want to give this one a wide berth.  If however you’re looking for some of the best stunt scenes you’ve seen in some time and a fun (if increasingly ridiculous, Loom of Fate?  Oh, please!) film, then this one’s for you.  For more on the film itself read my original review, or check out December’s alternative perspective.

I’m pretty happy with the two-disc Collector’s edition, but I must admit I’m tempted by the Blu-ray.  Could the story be better?  God yes!  But for those who just want a fun flick to watch every now and then (with extras showing how they did some of those cool stunts) I think you might want to give Wanted a try.

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Milk

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Milk
  • IMDB: link

“I’m Harvey Milk and I’m here to recruit you.”

Sean Penn stars as Harvey Milk, a businessman from New York who would struggle for years in an attempt to become San Francisco’s first openly gay elected official.

The film follows the failed campaigns and the process of organizing and entire community into public activism.  Director Gus Van Sant also spends considerable time on Harvey’s friendships and love life, giving us a complete picture of the man from his days before politics to his untimely end.

Penn is terrific as the lead.  Emile Hirsch, James Franco, Diego Luna, and Alison Pill all put in strong performances as the constellations which revolve around Hervey’s world.

Van Sant does a good job in showing us how Harvey related to the rest of the world.  Although the big public moments are meant to get your attention, its the quieter and more intimate ones that are more memorable.  Though those uncomfortable with gay relationships might want to steer clear of this one.

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