Stranger Than Fiction

What an outstanding movie! Odd, yes, but I like them that way (as you have surely figured out by now). Oftentimes "odd" isn't also able to be endearing, however this film was very much so! Who would ever have thought it believable - but it is! Anyway, to the premise...

A man with a very static (many would say boring) life starts to hear a narrator of his life story in the moment as he is living it. Disturbing indeed, but would it work as a premise for a story? Yes! I was intrigued by the previews but didn't know if it would actually fly as a full length film. I was pleased to find that the parts in the previews did not ruin anything, unlike so many teasers and trailers for films.

Emma Thompson was amazing in her role as the writer of the story and Will Ferrell wasn't annoying! Yeah, that's what I said - he wasn't annoying!! Not a big Ricky Bobby or Ron Burgundy fan, I do love him in Old School and a few other flicks. However, this was certainly his most subdued of characters. He was outstanding. Maggie Gyllenhaal was amazing as always. I just love her. She is a baker being audited by the IRS and is her usual fiery little self. Queen Latifah was understated, which made it a good role without being outlandish. Dustin Hoffman made me want to go over to his office and ask him about novels (he was a literature professor). So, everyone was great. That's all I'm saying. Yeah. Watch it.

Penelope

Loved it!! (and not just because I grew up on a hog farm either, for those of you in the know.) This movie is a fairy tale of sorts with Christina Ricci, James McAvoy and Reese Witherspoon. A wonderful story of a girl from a wealthy family who has been born under a curse. The sign of which shows itself in the form of a pig nose upon her face. (She also has pig ears at birth but we never see those again, so they were either removed or she hides them under her hair for the whole movie.) Her parents are as normal as two overbearing, image obsessed people can be and her life and living space seem pretty amazing considering that she has been held under lock and key for the past twenty-five years. She's never been out into the world and after seven years of rejection from possible suitors, decides to see what it is all about on her own. This is the story of her adventures out into the world.

The sets, costumes and scenic mood all help to transport you to this city of two continents. Half the cast have English accents and the other have are obviously American. The setting is New York/London/Moulin Rouge. It is a perfect fantasy land and I want her freaking wardrobe (nevermind the fact that Christina is probably a size 0). Everything has a touch of whimsy about it when viewed from Penelope's eyes. Max is a different story, coming from the proverbial school of hard knocks. His life is shown though dirty, dinghy glass but there is a glimmer of hope just around the corner of the hard, rough edges of his brick walled life. He spends his time in bars and at poker tables and views the world through a veil of sleep-deprivation. That is enough to make anyone crazy, without the gambling problems.

Anyway, this is a fanciful story that keeps a person engaged throughout and holds many other wonderful characters to explore, eg. those played by Catherine O'Hara and Peter Dinklage. Take the time to view this film. You won't regret it!!

Iron Man (2008)

Loved it. I am always a fan of the movies based on the Marvel and DC comics. I even liked Ang Lee's Hulk movie, which many viewers did not like. Therefore, I was going in to the viewing of Iron Man with the expectation of enjoyment and I was not disappointed. I also like Robert Downey, Jr. and keep giving his substance abuse addled self the benefit of the doubt (as do the Hollywood execs who give him a paycheck) and I hope against hope that he'll get his addiction problems in order and start putting out tons of good movies. I am thrilled that rooting for the underdog can pay off so well sometimes! This movie is thoroughly entertaining. I'm not saying, by any means, that it is an intellectual or emotional movie, but it is going to be quite a good time had by all at the movies.

The casting was excellent and I always love Jon Favreau's directing style. Jeff Bridges' character was just like that lovable yet slightly creepy uncle you see at a family reunion and Terrance Howard was Tony Stark's well played reluctant best friend. I have yet to find a role where I did not enjoy Gwyneth Paltrow's performance (having avoided ever seeing Hush or View from the Top) and this is another of her understated but well played movies. I do worry that she's possibly in a bit of a rut with casting since I kept thinking about Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (another movie I quite enjoyed) and it felt weird to think of another movie while watching this one. I must say that until this role I have never found Robert Downey to be a very sexy guy. Something about having a glowing blue arc magnet (or whatever it is called) in his chest has made him into quite a formidible character in that way. A certain je ne sais quoi about him that makes me want to pop open a bottle of champage and hang out in his living room. Anyway, 'nuf said, I know that we will own this movie and watch it again and again.

Starring: Robert Downey, Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard, Shaun Toub, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leslie Bibb, Clark Gregg, Faran Tahir

Just so you know, we are kicking into high gear for the Summer where we live, so I may be off this site for a while. I'll catch up when I can (trust me, I'll still be seeing movies - just not writing about them!!)

The Savages (viewed on 4/28/08)

This movie is quite good. I don't know that I will ever watch this again, but that is mostly because it hit a bit close to home. Laura Linney is wonderful as always. I'll write more later, really I will. I'm getting over a cold.

The Jane Austen Book Club (viewed 4/25/08)

A great movie. Very entertaining for Janites. I can't wait to go back and watch it again and determine who each person is supposed to represent from Jane Austen's novels. Definitely a go see!

The Orphanage (viewed 4/23/08)

Awesome. Guillermo del Toro is a badasssssss. (more to come...)

3:10 to Yuma (viewed 4/20/08)

Awesomeness. Boyfriend was fabulous. Extra backup boyfriend was great, too. Yeah, yeah, more later...