I Saw: I Love You Phillip Morris. 2009 (Glenn Ficarra, John Requa)

If you haven't heard much about this gem in media. It's because it has been in distribution hell for the last two year.  How hard can it be to sell a movie that feature Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor as two gay inmates in love? If you can tolerate gay sex and are not a follower of Bill O'Reily on Twitter. This is actually a very funny and wicked movie about a con artist and his love that see no barriers.  Jim Carrey is just creepy and daring as a middle age man sparkling into his homosexuality after a life threatening car accident.  Then how can you not love Ewan McGregor, the man has sing his way into our heart. Here he takes a few pointer from Nicole Kidman as the helpless beauty who need saving.  Glenn Ficarra and John Requa has twisted a love story that is nothing like anything you will see straight or gay outside of mainstream cinema. It's a mix of "Catch Me If You Can" and "The Shawshank Redemption" if it was directed by the Cohen Brothers.  I'm not going to oversell it anymore than it already has. But overlook your prejudice and watch this movie. It's going to be one of the most awkward and satisfying movie you are going to see in a while.

I Saw: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. 2009 (Niels Arden Oplev)

In 2009 Swedish author Stieg Larsson's popular Millennium Trilogy finally got the big screen treatment in director Niels Ardon Oplev first installlment: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  The story begins with a middle-aged investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) who has just been convicted of a bogus charge of libel against a rich and corrupt corporate hotshot when he's unexpectedly offered a large sum of money to solve a 40 year old murder.  While trying to unravel the mystery, he happens upon a computer hacker who have been tracking his case through his laptop.  When they refer to "star making performance" Somewhere Noomi Rapace name has to be mention as the dangerous girl with a hidden past, Lisbeth Salander.  Her role as the titled character has earn her such praise that she is currently cast in Sherlock Holmes 2 with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law.  This along with Oldboy has to be one of the most compelling thriller mystery I have seen in the last 5 year.  It is not only a exciting puzzle piece but it also exist in a rich and interesting world that I would love to see more in the second and third part.  Side note it is very interesting that David Ficher, director of Seven and the Social Network, is working on the American adaptation.  While I was watching it, all I could think about was Ficher's style and how his films could have easily influence this movie.  This might sound like alot of other detective murder story out there. But Lisbeth Salander is no regular character. This movie is provocative and it leave you wanting more.  I believe the sequel should get darker as we look into Lisbeth's past. 8/10 But then again I might have to look at all three movie and see it as a trilogy before I can properly give it a correct grade.

Good Movie, Good Music: The Music of Up 2009 (Michael Giacchino)

Up is one of my top 3 favorite Pixar movie of all time. Just that first 20 minutes is worth a ticket admission for the whole movie. If you aren't touched by that sequence, you sir are a heartless bastard or just a working lawyer. Here is a track from composer Michael Giacchino called "Married Life"

Good Movie, Good Music: The Music of Inception 2010 (Hans Zimmer, Zack Hemsey)

This is not going to be a review of Christopher Nolan's Blockbuster hit from summer 2010. In this section I will be pointing out great soundtrack from great movies. Ever like a song from a trailer or a film but can't seem to find it? I'm going to feature them here in this section called "Good Movie, Good Music"  The best part of most Christopher Nolan film have been his trailer, and the film have usually been just as great. Here's a track from this summer Inception (2010) Trailer that I really love. It's thematic and open and climaxes at the right time.

I Saw: The Fighter. 2010 (David O. Russell)

David O. Russell has made three movie with Mark Wahlberg over the last 12 year. What an odd combination of actor and director, I wonder what is it about each other that they love so much. One thing's for sure, Wahlberg is no De Niro and O. Russell is no Scorcesse. The Fighter is a story about a boxer, Micky Ward and his crack addict brother, Dicky Eklund, who help him train before going pro in the mid 1980s. For a sport film and a docu drama, it is really by the book. We see his downfall and rises to 'spoiler' become the world champion. It's not a bad film, but the only thing good about it is the two performances from Christian Bale and Melissa Leo as the overbearing mom/agent. You think it's scary to step into a boxing ring, try living with Alice Ward and her 5 daughters. The acting is good to subpar, story isn't anything new. The only hope is somewhere out there lies an outtake of David O. Russell having another one of his "breakdown" onset. Now that's entertainment. If you ever want to doubt that Batman himself, Christian Bale, isn't a committed actor. Do the following: rent The Machinist, then The Dark Knight, then The Fighter. If that doesn't make you respect the guy. Do the following: Smack yourself 3 time. The Man not only gives great performances but put his body through more changes than a season of the Biggest Loser. "Where have I seen them before" Who's that hot bartender who plays Mark Walhberg's love interest? It's Amy Adams, that's right  Giselle from Disney's modern take on dumb princesses ENCHANTED.  Who knew? Cinderella is just really a trashy white girl from Boston. j/k She's just a great actress. fun note if you stay for the credits the actress who plays Phyllis 'Beaver' Eklund, one of Wahlberg's many sister in the movie, is Katie O' Brien. Yup Conan O' Brien sister.

 

I Saw : Let Me In. 2010 (Matt Reeves)

"Let Me In" a 2010 release that was vastly overlooked by viewers is not only a great improvement over its foreign counterpart. But also a great horror love story about adolescence love between a boy and his vampire gf.  American remakes are usually horrible. But this one was really well made and they cast two really good actors in the leading roles. This was also more faithful to the book and improved alot in pace and created a what I thought was a great twist between the father and daughter relationship in the original. I give it 4 out 4 in an order of 4 veg spring roll; It's fresh, well made, and leaves you wanting more. Now here is a section of the blog I like to call "Where have I seen them before?" Chloe Moretz as Abby was last seen in this year rightfully titled KICKASS as Hit Girl.  And if Matt Reeves sound familiar to you, you might have heard of a little monster movie called CLOVERFIELD.  If you thought Cloverfield was just an appetizer Let Me In is just the right entree for this rising talented director. I can't wait to see what he cook up next. Hmm fun note, Matt Reeves was in the running to direct the next Superman film for Christopher Nolan.

Introducing Sean Darko...

This is strange. Starting a blog? Well first off my name is Sean and I am a college student majoring in film and media studies. Ever thought about what you would like to do when you grow up and
anticipating the day when you would enter college to fulfill your dreams and aspirations? Well I thought it would be more fun if I got a degree in movie making than actually making money. Blah Blah Blah, film people are weird and awkwardly nerdy, they smoke alot of pot and talk more about movies then actually make them. Etc. etc. my college experience was awsomely not.  But what I did get from it is a love for film and media. I'm not going to list my favorite movies or tell you how much you should agree with me on them. I just wanted to create a journal to date my love for film. And to start my blog off with a quote something famous and corny "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Casablanca (1942)