Garden State

Zach Braff's film Garden State was an interesting movie. Not the typical movie you see. I'm not quite sure to describe it but I guess I'll try. The movie is about a young man whose goes back home after being away for nine years due to the death of his paraplegic mother. While there, he meets a young girl who is a chronic liar and who has epilepsy. Then he goes with the girl and his best friend on a search around the town for his going away present.

Not only was Braff the director of this film, but is also played the main character. And he did a surprisingly good job too. His character was a very calm, quiet, hurting man and Braff portrayed all of his emotions so well. It was almost beautiful. While watching him on screen, you could see the hurt and distress in his eyes. Natalie Portman, who plays, Sam, also did a fantastic job with her part. She was bubbly and giddy and exciting and fun to watch. You could feel her happiness coming through the screen and you could feel her pain when she was hurting. The two also had a strange yet intriguing on screen chemistry. They were a strange couple, not just the actors but also the characters, but they worked. Their relationship seemed realistic and they seemed like they truly enjoyed each other's company and that they truly had feelings for each other. Their chemistry made for a very interesting movie.

The movie was very strange. The plot was not the normal movie plot and for being a movie with such famous actors it all felt very indie. And there was also a strong resemblance between Portman's character and Clementine from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind which came out the same year. And I think that's one of the reasons I enjoyed the movie so much. It had a very indie and artistic vibe that made it really interesting to watch. It was artsy but not to the point where it didn't make sense or wasn't enjoyable. It was just artistic enough to really have a point and to hit close to home. It's just one of those movies where you know that it has some meaning behind it. Even if at first you don't know what that meaning may be. And it took me a little while to figure out what I think it means, but now I think I know. I think the meaning behind the movie is life is too short. You must do what makes you happy and reconnect with the ones who you love and who love you. And that's why I really liked this movie. Most movies these days don't have any true meaning, but Braff's Garden State is different. It means something and it's interesting and entertaining too.

-H

Shutter Island

Martin Scorsese's new film Shutter Island is number one at the box office right now and is well liked by viewer's and critics alike. It tells the story of a young detective who goes to investigate the disappearance of a young woman from an insane asylum on Shutter Island. Once there he realizes that there are some really strange things going on at Shutter Island. Including some medical experiments and dangerously insane inmates who are locked up in cell block C. The plot is a little strange but is very interesting and entertaining.

The young detective, Teddy Daniels, is played by Leonardo DiCaprio. This is DiCaprio's fourth movie with the famous director Martin Scorsese. Many say that this movie is one of Scorsese's worse. I cannot comment on that because I have only seen one other movie by Scorsese, The Aviator. But I do think that The Aviator was far worse than Shutter Island, because I actually liked Shutter Island. But anyway, Leonardo DiCaprio is an amazing actor as usual and plays the part perfectly, with extreme emotion and realism. The touching story also create a very emotional movie. DiCaprio, however, isn't the only great actor from the film. Ben Kingsly does an equally good job playing the lead doctor at the asylum.

Shutter Island is one part crime thriller and one part artistic statement. It teeters between mainstream thrills and drama and artistic flashbacks and dream sequences that are not only beautifully done, but are essential to the main plot, so pay close attention! There are also many shocking and thrilling scenes because, truly, there is nothing scarier than a crazy person. I wouldn't necessarily call Shutter Island a horror movie, but it does shock.

Since the movie is so new, I won't give away the ending. But I must say something. This movie is full of twists and turns that will keep the viewer on the edge of their seat and guessing till the very last shot. However, the ending is somewhat predictable. And when I say somewhat, I truly mean somewhat. While watching the movie I guessed part of the ending. However, J guessed another part of the ending. Together we figured out a good bit of the ending, but still not all. And that's one of the things that makes this movie good. You may be able to figure out part of the ending but I honestly doubt that anyone could figure out every last bit.

-H

Dear John

With Valentine's Day just a few days away I thought I'd write a review for a movie many couples will probably be seeing this weekend: Dear John. Dear John is about a young man in the military who meets a girl. The two fall in love and spend an amazing time together before he is deployed to Iraq, right before 9/11. The movie is based loosely on the Nicholas Sparks book by the same title which I haven't read, however, I've heard that the book and movie are a little different and many people who have read the book do not like the movie as much. I can't comment on that because I haven't read the book, but I did enjoy the movie.

I'm not usually a chick flick lover, but I have a special place in my heart for Nicholas Sparks books and movies. Dear John is no exception. The movie was extremely sweet and romantic and I'm sure most women will enjoy it. Men, on the other hand, may not like it so much. The movie is made for women. It's sappy and so romantic that many men will probably just sit and role their eyes while their girlfriends cry their eyes out: at least that's what happened when I went to see it. But, anyway, the movie itself was not amazing. But it did have so redeeming qualities. The plot was actually very interesting. Many romance movies are very predictable and at first glance this one appears predictable too. But Dear John actually surprises with a few twist and turns that will make almost anyone cry.

Another redeeming quality was the chemistry between Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried. The two were just amazing together. The way they looked at each other and the way they delivered their lines seemed so real, as if they were really a couple. The chemistry between the two whenever they were on screen together was just incredible. They both performed so strongly. They truly played their characters. They showed emotion and gave a tear-jerking and wonderful performance.

The thing I didn't like about the movie, however, was the ending. While it was realistic, it just left you without any answers. It made me feel almost like I had just wasted an hour and a half even though I loved the rest of the movie. The ending was just not fulfilling. Everything else about the movie was pretty good though.

Guys, if your girlfriend wants to see this, don't whine and complain. Take her. The movie isn't just a romance movie. It shows some cool scenes with the military and you even get to see a pretty cool explosion. And, also, if you take her to see this you'll definitely gets some brownie points because it is a real chick-flick.

Happy Valentine's Day!

-H

Oscar Nominations

Well, the Oscar nominations have been released! And some seem reasonable, and some not so much. So here are just a few of the nominations.

Best Picture:

Avatar

The Blind Side

Up

Up in the Air

Inglourious Basterds

District 9

The Hurt Locker

An Education

A Serious Man

Precious

Best Actor in a leading Role:

George Clooney in Up in the Air

Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart

Colin Firth in A Single Man

Morgan Freeman in Invictus

Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker

Best Actress in a leading Role:

Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side

Helen Mirran in The Last Station

Carey Mulligan in An Education

Gabourey Sidibe in Precious

Meryl Streep in Julie and Julia

Best Director

Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious Basterds

Lee Daniels for Precious

James Cameron for Avatar

Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker

Jason Reitman for Up in the Air

So, what do you think? What movies were missed and what/who doesn't even deserve to be there? Personally, I feel that Avatar doesn't deserve the Best Picture nomination or the best directing. It was a good film, but the story wasn't that amazing. Maybe The Hangover should go in it's place?

I also think that Brad Pitt deserved a Best Actor nomination for Inglourious Basterds. Why did he not get one? Who knows, but I do feel that he deserves one. But, I suppose it doesn't really matter what I think. What do y'all think about the nominations?