"Scott Pilgrim Versus The World" Review

Based on the trailers alone for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, I was hesitant about seeing it, though I believed it had a great deal of potential considering Edgar Wright (the brilliant mind behind Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) was directing and the comic it was based on was rad. So I decided to take a chance and see this film the other night and must admit I was blown away by it's high energy and brilliance.

The film follows Scott Pilgrim (played by the King of Awkward Indie Boys Michael Cera) a bass player in Canada, who literally fights for the love of the new girl in town, Ramona Flowers by attempting to defeat her seven evil exes to win her heart. From the pitch perfect casting which included having The Fantastic Four's Human Torch, & Superman play Ramona's exes, to Kieran Culkin as Scott's gay roommate, and the always delightful Anna Kendrick as Scott's younger sister, the performances certainly deliver. There is not a dull moment in the entire film, and can best be described as a live-action graphic novel, that is part vintage video-game/psuedo rock opera or an "action romantic comedy" as Wikipedia described it. But it is so much more than both those descriptions and worth checking out. If you're still hesitant after watching the trailer, take my word for it, it's definitely worth seeing.



My rating: 8.9/10

"(500) Days of Summer" Review

I've been quite excited for the release of this film for some time and finally went on a date with myself to check it out. I thought this film was heart-breakingly deflightful, well acted, well executed and mildly depressing. It was nowhere near as extreme as the soul-crushingly brilliant Revolutionary Road, but you're informed right at the start that it's a work of fiction and that it is NOT a love story, but of course a part of you hopes that there is a happy ending, but you soon realize that this movie is most likely not going to provide you with one for the unbeliveably adorable Zooey Deschanel and positively perfectly cute Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I describe both actors with postive adejctives because their portrayals of their characters and their chemistry was fantastic, each was incredibly flawed and relatable, throughout the film that chronicles the 500 days of their relationship, which are shown out of order. Entertainment Weekly's Owen Glieberman wrote:

(500) Days is like a mood ring cued to the ups, downs, and confusions of modern
love. It's a Gen-Y Annie Hall made by a new-style Wes Anderson who uses his
cleverness for humanity instead of postmodern superiority. None of it would
work, though, without such lived-in performances. Deschanel makes the lovely,
sensuous Summer just precocious enough to know what she wants without coming out and saying it, and Gordon-Levitt, with his junior Springsteenian chin jut, 
lets
you read every glimmer of hope, pain, lust, and befuddlement beneath his nervy
facade. It's a feat of star acting, and it helps make (500) Days not just bitter
or sweet but everything in between.

And I certainly agree.

My rating: 8.9/10

The Proposal Review

I saw this movie literally minutes after finding out Michael Jackson had died and it really lifted my spirits, even while being unavoidably predictable, but it was undeniably better than expected. Ryan Reynolds is a prince and Sandra Bullock is delightful as always. Oh yeah and Bety White rocks (& I'm not just saying that because I love Golden Girls), but I do have to say that Oscar Nunez (who plays Oscar on The Office) stole every scene he was in, as he keeps popping up throughout the movie. This movie is no Casablanca, but certainly an entertaining, sweet and enjoyable film for the situation, because laughter is the best medicine...well aside from actual medicine.

My rating: 8.3/10

Exclusive Clip: Zooey Deschanel Not Interested in Being Your Girlfriend, in "500 Days of Summer"

I've mentioned 500 Days of Summer on more than 1 occassion in the past and am about to again, now that there's an exclusive clip from the movie available at New York Magazine online.

"In theaters July 17 is 500 Days of Summer, a love story (sort of) starring
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a greeting-card copywriter retracing the steps of his
failed relationship with Summer, played by Zooey Deschanel. Fox Searchlight has
given us this exclusive clip, in which Deschanel explains that she's not
interested in having a boyfriend, to the disappointment of Gordon-Levitt and the
befuddlement of Geoffrey Arend (real-life fiancé of Mad Men's Christina
Hendricks). "[Exclusive Clip: Zooey Deschanel Not Interested in Being Your Girlfriend, in 500 Days of Summer -- Vulture -- Entertainment & Culture Blog -- New York Magazine]

trailer trash - Paper Heart

This sweet, endearing, quirky "meta-documentary-cum-romance [called] Paper Heart, follows Michael Cera's inamorata Charlyne Yi and her quest to discover what love really is" according to Entertainment Weekly (who happens to be totally obsessed with this flick already.)

trailer trash - 500 Days of Summer

I gave this film a mention back in April because of my appreciation of for Joseph Gordon-Levitt, but thought it deserved the proper trailer trash presentation and it gives me an excuse for me to give him props for being brilliantly brooding on the cover and inside of V-MAN Magazine.

It's Monday...

'Wolverine' claws to top of box office - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety which means Liev, oh yeah & Hugh Jackman were # 1 this weekend. Did you see it? I was going to but just couldn't bring myself to head to the theater, especially after I came across a Kate & Leopold/ Serendipity double feature deal (pictured above.) If you haven't seen K & L it's an incredibly cute and presposterous romcom starring Hugh Jackman & Meg Ryan, where Liev plays an integral and entertaining supporting role.

Here's the incredibly generic trailer, but Hugh & Liev are so darn great, & the fact that the plot is out of this world makes this movie forgivable.