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Short movie reviews by Adriana Popovici

The Help

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Image source: Wikimedia

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Year of release: 2011
Director: Tate Taylor
Writers: Tate Taylor (screenplay), Kathryn Stockett (novel)
Starring: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, etc.

For more information on “The Help”, visit Wikipedia and/or IMDb

 

General impression:
In spite of the fact that it is a drama on serious topics, it’s hard not to label “The Help” a chick flick. It is about Civil Rights era housewives in Jackson, Mississippi, and their maids of color – the women who raised their children and did their housework, with little to show for. The masculine presence in this story is scarce and, despite making a few points, it is not essentially relevant. Apart from that, it is a touching movie, with great acting, showing the unjust lives of black women in those times. The (often ignorant and insensitive) lady of the house (Bryce Dallas Howard does a great job portraying a completely despicable one) had a full life at the expense of the bitter sacrifices her help needed to make to be able to serve long hours, doing all the actual work around the house, and getting no respect for it. Prejudices and stereotypes, a past that’s not very far away from our time… It’s hard to believe that people could/can behave like that… Hard to believe, yet real.

Highlights:
It’s a good movie with good acting performances rewarded with nominations and awards.

Downside:
On a scale from 1 to 5 in which 1 means “not a chick flick” and 5 is “100% chick-o flick-o”, “The Help” is at 4.

Would I see it again? – Yes, someday

My Rating (1 to 10): 9

Recommended: Yes 🙂

Suggestion:
Remember: “You is kind, you is smart, you is important” 🙂

 

Bridesmaids

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Image source: Wikimedia

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Year of release: 2011
Director: Paul Feig
Writers: Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, etc.

For more information on “Bridesmaids”, visit Wikipedia and/or IMDb

 

General impression:
When I think of this movie, I always remember the first time I watched it, particularly a point where tears were running down my face and I was out of breath, with pain in my cheeks and chest. I couldn’t stop laughing! I chuckle as I’m writing this. It is a hilarious comedy supported by underlying drama, so it is not just a collection of gags. It’s about friendship, rivalry, relationships, passions, all blended well into a story lots of girls can relate to. Kristen Wiig (who is a genuine comedic talent) plays Annie, a woman in a challenging stage of her life. Her best friend is getting married and also has a new close friend. Her “romantic” life is reduced to a casual “no strings attached” relationship. She has an unsatisfactory job she’s not good at, and a past entrepreneurial failure that haunts her because the baking business she had to give up was her true knack. With a bruised ego and uncomfortable circumstances, she has to act in spite of her damaged self-confidence. Don’t worry, it can keep a guy amused too 😀

Highlights:
It made me laugh to tears.

Downside:
In my opinion, there’s no downside here 😀

Would I see it again? – Yes, and I already did 😀

My Rating (1 to 10): 9

Recommended: Yes!

Suggestion:
Do not eat or drink while watching this movie, and you’ll avoid accidents like choking.

 

Drive

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Image source: Wikimedia

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Year of release: 2011
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Writer: Hossein Amini (screenplay), James Sallis (novel)
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks, Ron Perlman, etc.

For more information on “Drive”, visit Wikipedia and/or IMDb

 

General impression:
“Drive” is a solid cinematographic product, with a consistent sense of aesthetics, a polished style, and a remarkable balance of proportions. It seems as if this movie was made through a series of best choices and there was no element left to chance. I have no idea if this is by any means true, but that is the feeling I got when I watched it. As a spectator, you either like it or not. The story is somewhat… dry for my taste, but Gosling and Mulligan manage to express the essence of their characters, and keep them interesting. Gosling even models a scorpion jacket to iconic status. Everything considered, all those involved in making this movie, did a terrific job – the result of their work indicates so.

Highlights:
It has two major (but rare) related qualities: personality and memorability.

Downside:
Its quality of execution punches you in the face, and you cannot quite get over it, helping to disguise the fact that this is not necessarily an enjoyable movie, but a rather cold and somber one.

Would I see it again? – Yes

My Rating (1 to 10): 9

Recommended: Yes

Suggestion:
Check out the cool soundtrack. You can also find on 8tracks.com mixes related to this soundtrack: http://8tracks.com/mixes/drive+soundtrack

 

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

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Image source: Wikimedia

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Year of release: 2011
Director: Stephen Daldry
Writers: Eric Roth (screenplay); Jonathan Safran Foer (novel)
Starring: Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Horn, etc.

For more information on “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close”, visit Wikipedia and/or IMDb

 

General impression:
The kid, Thomas Horn, is great. The movie starts with an awesome father-son relationship, and continues with a story about the “modest” reality behind the 9/11 “saga” – many lives were abruptly lost on that day, and many more lives were just as abruptly changed by this unjust and absurd event. Those who died had families, relatives and friends, people who loved and miss them. At least one of those who died in the 9/11 attacks had a son, a boy like Oskar (Thomas Horn’s character) maybe, a kid that had to cling on to a hope for meaning in order to get his life back to normal, facing and overcoming his fears all alone, meeting all kinds of people and making friends along the way, even changing lives. I’m glad this is not a movie about terrorism, but about life going on. I’m a bit intrigued that it is considered by some false and sentimentally “engineered” – I guess, some people, in an ocean of interpretation, theory, and (per-)mutations of facts, have forgotten that there is still love, loss, pain, and recovery. And that kid, Thomas Horn… he’s great.

Highlights:
It made me cry 🙂

Downside:
There is something about this film that can make it seem deceivingly sentimental. It lacks the bridge some might need in order to perceive the facts and the feelings as a whole.

Would I see it again? – Yes, someday

My Rating (1 to 10): 9

Recommended: Yes

Suggestion:
It’s a good choice for a late fall/winter evening when you have a hot drink, some cookies and lots of handkerchiefs close.

 

Zelig

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Image source: Wikimedia

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Year of release: 1983
Director: Woody Allen
Writer: Woody Allen
Starring: Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, etc.

For more information on “Zelig”, visit Wikipedia and/or IMDb

 

General impression:
One of my favorite Woody Allen movies, “Zelig” is a masterpiece. It doesn’t have the magnet for standard popular interest (which is a good thing), but this black and white, documentary-style, original movie is definitely worth seeing. It blends wit, humor, psychology and feeling into a film of both strength and delicacy, a beautiful reference cinematographic piece on identity issues. The most wonderful thing is that there’s no need to use a lot of words to describe, explain, recommend “Zelig”. You like it or you don’t, you feel it or you don’t.

Highlights:
It’s complete – it oozes unity and vision.

Downside:
It’s not for anyone; some might not see the appeal at all.

Would I see it again? – Yes

My Rating (1 to 10): 9

Recommended: Yes

Suggestion:
Remember what Albert Einstein said: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Chill, you’re great just the way you are!

 

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