Milk

2008

Directed by: Gus Van Sant

Written by: Dustin Lance Black

Starring: Sean Penn, James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, Josh Brolin

This movie, based on a true story, is moving and well-done. Everyone and everything looks prettier than it would have, of course, this is Hollywood after all. But the historical context and events are portrayed and set up well. There are some great performances, notably by Sean Penn and Josh Brolin. I really enjoyed this movie, though it was sad, and it made me think a whole lot. Watch it if you're interested in history, San Francisco, or the gay rights movement!

Grade: A

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

2008
Directed by: Bharat Nalluri
Written by: David Magee and Simon Beaufoy
Starring: Amy Adams, Frances McDormand, Ciaran Hinds, Lee Pace

This is a movie about a governess (McDormand) in the 1940s who gets fired and finds herself desperate for work and a place to live. She ends up becoming a social secretary for an American starlet (Amy Adams) and helps her navigate her complicated love life.

The movie is adorable, happy, and ultimately even triumphant. It's a sweet story of love, and of not being ashamed of who you are. There are themes of choosing love over advantage and being able to find love even after you've given up hope. The filming is gorgeous and the costumes are pretty. I really liked it! Also I already loved Amy Adams (Enchanted) and Lee Pace (from Pushing Daisies)

Grade: A

A Complete History of My Sexual Failures

This was a hilarious, endearing, and moving documentary. It also included several scenes of nudity. It is about a man, Chris Waitt, who attempts to interview all his ex-girlfriends to find out what is wrong with him, since they all dumped him. We are taken on Chris's journey of self-discovery to the sad realization that this whole project was really an attempt to get back together with one particular ex. It is the kind of documentary that pulls you in, you feel like you become friends with the somewhat-pathetic Chris during the course of the film. And you cheer at the end when he gets a great new girlfriend, and wonder how he's doing now.

Grade: A+

Man On Wire

Man On Wire was about a Frenchman, Philippe Petit, who wirewalked between the Twin Towers in the ‘70s. It was an amazing documentary – it explored the reasons the guy wanted to do this, what he had done leading up to it (Notre Dame and Sydney Harbour Bridge), and his relationships with his girlfriend and his friends and how they changed as time went on and as he became famous. He saw that the Twin Towers were ‘going to be built at some time’ when he was 17, and it was his life’s dream to walk on a wire between them. The movie was beautiful, funny (he got arrested each of these times and it was kind of hilarious – like the police report for his Twin Towers request said “Description of Complaint – MAN ON WIRE”), and extremely interesting. The music is wonderful as well. I am really glad I saw it. It is an excellent documentary.

Grade: A+

The Dark Knight

I was really looking forward to seeing this movie. I had to wait a week because it came out late in New Zealand. I must say, I was not at all disappointed. Christian Bale was great. Heath Ledger was phenomenal. It was less weird to watch than I had expected, it was like he was someone else entirely. It was sad, truly moving. It explored deep moral and social issues. The 'social experiments' the Joker does are especially intriguing. I don't want to give too much away. It was a deep, heavy movie. And I loved it.

Grade: A+

10,000 BC

This movie was better than I was expecting. It was really epic, of course, and quite good, actually. The CGI was awesome - those mammoths! The story was very touching and uplifting in the end. Not bad portrayals of hunter-gatherer and herding societies. Of course, I'm sure it's not historically accurate in the least. But it's about the people, really. A man who will do anything to get his love back to him, and also to free his people. Very positive.

Grade: B

Be Kind, Rewind

Michel Gondry's latest shows that, yes, his movies have been going downhill. Of his major films: Human Nature was quite good, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was amazing. But then there was Science of Sleep. It was mostly just strange, and not all that great. And now there is this. It doesn't even have any of Gondry's signature weirdness. It's plain, basically. Not all that funny. Doesn't develop in the way of many things: there is a hinted romance which never gets fleshed out, the plot doesn't even get resolved, etc. Basically, this movie was quite disappointing. Isn't Jack Black always funny? Apparently not.

Grade: C-

Latest Views: Fool's Gold; Dead Man

Fool's Gold

Saw this in the theater with my mom on Saturday. Of course, Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey are extremely attractive people, so that does not hurt this romantic comedy. It is funny and endearing, sweet and a bit quirky. I swear it must be based on a Carl Hiaasen or Tim Dorsey novel... the plot is similar. It's about treasure, and love of course. If you want a movie with some action and some lovin', this is a good bet.

Grade: B+

Dead Man

This was Johnny Depp's first major role, in 1995. It's in black and white, and is incredibly artsy and slow-paced. However, this is not a bad thing - it's an excellent film. It's funny in parts, profound in others. Heavy on the symbolism, you need to watch carefully. I saw it Friday night with some Spanish house people in a room that is supposed to be haunted by a guy who committed suicide there. No sign of that, though; just a great movie.

Grade: A