Too Long since last post

Wow I can't believe its been that long since my last blog. Life is very busy and thanks to a friend I realize its been too long. I have seen a few movies but only a few have impressed. I like reviewing the oscar nominated movies and actors, especially the winners. As we all know the Departed won the best film. I found the movie different. I didn't like the ending I felt like it was an easy way to finish the film. Otherwise the movie was enjoyable and would be enjoyed by most. One of the worst films I have seen in a while was the Queen. Helen Mirren was not convincing in her portrayal of the Queen. It felt like a telemovie. Was the movie popular because it was about Diana and how poorly the situation was handled by the Monarchy? I believe so? This is a movie I would not recommend. Enough of the general chit chat I start reviewing now.

Kinky Boots

This movie is based on a true story. It tells the story about Charlie who inherits a shoe store that is going bankrupt. Charlie doesn't want to work in the store, but when he meets Lola a transvestite, he is inspire to make shoes for men who want to be women. He take a gamble but he has a chance to safe the shoe store and everyone working in it. It sounds vey simplistic but sometimes the best movies are the ones that have simple story lines. There is some depth in the movie as it explores everyones feelings about Lola and her way of life.

I loved it and had a good laugh. Its a good movie to watch if you like to smile through a movie. It had a similar feel to it as The Full Monty.

Rating: 4/5

Born into Brothels

I must admit it has been a while since I have watched this documentary but it had an impact and I felt compelled to write about it. This documentary is based in a Brothel in India. The content is based around a french photographer who showed some children who lived in the brothels how to take photos. All of these children had had lives we could not imagine our children having this had an impact on the photos they took. She then took those photos and displayed them in a gallery for the public to witness. Being aware of the future these children will probably have, she then endeavoured to find them appropriate schooling. The movie then explains the difficulties she experienced in doing this.

I was someone who did not enjoy documentaries or foreign films but this documentary changed my mind, and since I have watched and enjoyed many.

Rating : 4/5

World Trade Centre

As this title suggests the movie is about the horrific incidents that occurred on September 11th. The movie is primarily about two policemen who become trapped beneath the rubble of the World Trade Centre collapse and their story of survival and rescue. There was dramatic music which was meant to accompany the script in pulling emotions out from the viewer but it just didn't happen. In contrast, the movie Flight 93 which is also based on the events on 9/11 brought out far more emotion from the viewer. They used unknown actors and it was not sensationalised like "World Trade Centre". I also do not enjoy watching Nicholas Cage so that took some enjoyment from the movie. If you are wanting to choose a movie to watch about 9/11 then choose Flight 93 and then watch the directors comments for more insight on what happened on that day.

Movies watched in the past couple of months

Night at the museum 5/5. The devil wears Prada 3/5. Little miss Sunshine 3/5. Material girls 3/5. The Matador 4/5. Friends with Money 3/5. Flight 93 4/5. Oliver Twist 2/5. Human Trafficking 5/5. Nacho Libre 2/5. Edmond 1/5. Maria Full of Grace 4/5. Storm breaker 4/5 (for pre teens). Shadowboxer 3/5. Step up 3/5. Motorcycle diaries 3/5. D.O.A. 3/5. Capote 3/5. Mozart and the whale 3/5. The Lake House 3/5. Half Light 3/5. Kinky Boots 4/5. Stoned 3/5. Click 3/5. Lady in the water 4/5. 5 fingers 4/5. 3 needles 3/5. Jindabyne 3/5. Candy 4/5. Transamerica 4/5. Hoodwinked 2/5. Grand Champion 1/5. Just my luck 3/5. Shes the man 3/5. An inconvienient truth 3/5. You, me and Dupree 3/5. On a Clear day 3/5. Silent Hill 2/5. Born into Brothels 4/5.


There has been a lot of fantastic acting in some of the above movies but the performances of two people stand out from the rest and these two people are Phillip Seymour-Hoffman in Capote and Felicity Huffman in Transamerica. Both were nominated for academy awards and the movies are worth watching just for the tremendous acting. As I have mentioned in the review of Human Trafficking the acting is magnificent by most especially the unknown actors.

Little Miss Sunshine

Review

Little Miss Sunshine is about an average American girl who wins a place in a beauty competition, and how the family survive travelling together to get to the competition. The parents are played by Toni Collette and Greg Kinnear. There is a lot of differing opinions about this movie. I believe that if you are able to accept the style of the movie and get through the first 1/2 hour then you may enjoy it. I did. The reason I have rated it as watchable and not as recommended is because it is not everyones idea of a good movie.

Rating : 3/5

The Devil Wears Prada

Review

This movie is nothing more than an enjoyable chick flick. The story revolves around Andy who is a wanna be journalist. She is unable to get a job she wants so therefore takes a job at an exclusive fashion magazine as an assistant. Her job is made difficult by her boss.

If you want to watch a movie and not think, then this movie is for you.

Rating : 3/5

Maria full of Grace

Review

Maria full of Grace is a foreign film with impact. The story revolves around the life of Maria and the choices she makes. The most significant choice she makes is when she decides to become involved in the Columbian drug trafficking business as a drug mule. It does not glamourise drugs but does show the drug mules perspective and how easily it could be to get trapped in the drug trafficking situation.

It is important to note the different relationships Maria has with her sister, Blanca, Lucy and Carla as each of those relationships have an underlying effect on Maria when she decides her own fate and the fate of her unborn child. The differences between the life in Columbia and New York are evident without the storyline emphasing them.

It is a slow movie that must be watched with sub titles.

Rating :4/5

Post movie discussion
I found it intersting to see the differences between Maria and Blanca. Maria was not prepared to live the life her sister does and had a strength to change. In contrast Blanca didn't seem to ever challenge the system in Columbia or be concerned about her role as a drug mule. I found the lack of emotion Maria, Blanca and Lucy had about the entire drug trafficking situation unreal to me, but maybe it is their culture. The movie didn't portray Marias rise to grace to me, I felt there were more selfish reasons for her choices. The reason I believe this is is because Maria never seemed concerned about the safety of her family in Columbia and the result of her rebellion on them, but rather her own needs.