"Fates Intertwined, Cosmic Coincidence" (Collateral review)



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Collateral is one of the most brilliant action movies I have ever seen. I might be a little biased on this because we studied this movie in our film class, so that is why I only gave it four stars. It is still a wonderfully made movie or otherwise we would have picked the norm, Citizen Kane.

Collateral is a Michael Mann movie about a cab driver named Max (Jamie Fox) who one night picks up a man like any other by the name of Vincent (Tom Cruise). He takes him to his destination and gets an offer he can’t, that is to drive him to several stops throughout the course of the night. While he waits for Vincent to come out of his first stop, a body suddenly falls on top of his car. Soon we learn that Vincent is a hit man, and that he has four more stops to make.

There is a grater quality to this film than just action. We come to know the characters as if we ourselves were on the cab with them making every stop. I loved Tom Cruise’s character, he is a hit man but a likeable man. He sees the world in a much different way than Max, and finds his job to be nothing more than just that. At some point he makes a comment that the people he kills are insignificant compared to how large the universe is. A true point he makes, that one death, from over 6 billion people is nothing at all. We see Tom Cruise as this silver fox, with a wisdom hardly attained by someone his age. By far this is his best action movie I have seen, and could not help but like him even more than Max.

Max on the other hand is this man with a dream to one day have his own limousine business. In a way though he is this man who hides in his cab which is an excuse to after his dreams. As the movie progresses he has to face a choice, whether to let Vincent make him do what he says, or stand up to him. In a way Vincent gives him the strength to make a stand. So our initially weak character gathers courage and makes the stand.

There are many beautiful aspects in this film. Master editing, and wonderful cinematography. The setting of Los Angeles at night is by far my favorite. There is suspense, and great action, including a wonderful crash scene. Collateral stars Tom Cruise, Jamie Fox, Javier Bardem, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Mark Ruffalo. With this film, which obviously now is in my top 100, Tom Cruise becomes my favorite actor of all time. I don’t care if people don’t like him I like him, he is a brilliant actor, and no wonder he is one of the highest paid actors. He has earned his fame, there is no doubt he is talented.

I would recommend this film to everyone. I think you would all like it, for it is a brilliant film with a great plot, and superb character development. In fact I don’t just recommend this movie, I urge you to watch this movie. It is the best action movie I have ever seen. Go rent it or buy for you’ll want to watch it over and over again.

Collateral

collateral fever club scene

A brilliant scene from Collateral.

Portrait Of A Ruthless Family (The Family Stone review)



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The Family Stone is cool comedy that goes further than making us laugh. It is the story of a dysfunctional family and one that is quite unconventional. It is a family nonetheless, and with family come many problems.

Everett Stone (Dermont Mulroney) is taking his girlfriend and the woman he will marry to his parents home for the holidays. Her name is Meredith Morton (Sarah Jessica Parker). Before they arrive we see the family starting to gather at the home, and like any good family the topic of the day is pointing out every flaw in Meredith. They talk about her from every angle and before we get to see more of Meredith, we simply, thanks to the family, come to know her as an uptight bitch. Whether this is entirely true or not, the whole family seems to feel that way about her.

All in all they arrive, she is welcomed more or less, and the conflicts begin. The mom (Diane Keaton) is expecting her son to ask Meredith to marry him. Her and most of the family members do not approve, and sooner than later, Meredith becomes aware of this. She calls her sister Julie (Claire Danes), but at the Christmas eve dinner things take a bad turn when the subject of homosexuality, since Everett’s brother is gay, is brought to the table. The mom makes a comment that no ordinary mom would ever make, and Meredith questions this only to make things turn ugly, and compels Meredith to leave the table in tears.

Soon the other brother, Ben (Luke Wilson) goes to comfort her, they get drunk, Julie and Everett look for them, and we come to find out that there is more going on than we expected. More arguments, a proposal, fights, and sad news later the family comes to understand the value of having each other. They in the end open their hearts to Meredith who has merely desperately tried to make them like her.

The story is very well written, and there are many laughs without it being stupid. You know how much I hate stupid movies. We get to see into a family that is very critical, yet open about things. We feel sorry for Meredith, but we also sympathize with Sybil the mother. I loved this movie for it’s realism, and the performances are genuine.

Sarah Jessica Parker has recently become one of my favorite actresses, while Rachel McAdams as the mean sister is nothing short of delightful. Claire Danes is also great for she always has that feel to her that makes one like her no matter what. Luke Wilson is made for his role as the laid back brother with a charming quality. Diane Keaton is an actress that to my great surprise embodies everything a mother is. She is wonderful in this, and gives an amazing performance. I think I liked her character best because she reminds me of my own mother, one who is strong, yet vulnerable, but always seeking the best for her children. Her potty mouth is a quality that greatly reminded me of my own mother, and she didn’t make excuses for it which was even better.

I recommend this film to anyone, it is a fun wild family ride. This is a ruthless family that makes for the most memorable and crazy holidays. A memorable film this is. One of the best and most surprising comedies I have ever seen.

The Family Stone

The Family Stone Trailer (2005)

Terrible Acting, Great Film! (Notorious review)

Notorious

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Notorious comes from The Classical Hollywood Era, and really I probably would have never watched it if it wasn’t for class. While to me this is not my taste for a good movie, the film is good nonetheless.

This is the story of Alicia (Ingrid Bergman), a woman who is trying to redeem herself by serving as an undercover spy for a greater cause. She marries a man she does not love, and seems to almost loose the man she does, professional spy Devlin (Cary Grant). As she tries to uncover what it is that her false husband, who is by the way a Nazi, is hiding she gets discovered. As the whole cover up falls apart she get’s poisoned, and is incapable of letting anyone know she is in danger. The ending is for you to find out.

This film is filled with the mastery of Hitchcock, and one truly understands why he was the master of suspense. He goes deeper than just telling a story, he tells it in the most exciting possible way. This film while it may have some issues, like being a classical conventional movie, with a conventional ending, still makes for a very entertaining movie.

One thing I would like to point out, what the hell is up with the acting. I know this film is came out way before my time or that of even my parents, so I’m not used to how different films were back then, but boy is the acting cheesy. I guess no one really knew how to act for a film yet. I’m used to seeing the Kate Winslets, and Meryl Streeps loose themselves completely in their roles. Well either way, that doesn’t mean Ingrid Bergman is not astonishingly beautiful. While she doesn’t act well, she sure kept me transfixed by her beauty.

The best part of the film is a great scene in which Alicia has to get a key to the wine cellar, but her husband is just a couple of fee away in the bathroom out of sight. It is so suspenseful because we know she takes the key, and there is just so much danger in her getting discovered. Ah that scene is brilliant and a key part of the film.

This is in black and white but don’t let that stop you from watching it. There are lots of laughs from this, but there are also some very suspenseful moments filled with dramatic music. So give it a try, and I promise you, your time will have been well spent.



Notorious containing the key scene

A Beautiful Dream (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind review)



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From the brilliant writers Michael Gondry (Be Kind Rewind) and Charlie Kaufman (Adaptation) comes Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. The film is wonderfully written, and filled with things that will raise a brow. There is a flowing quality to this film, and while it may seem complex, it is not confusing. Some films are too much for some, but trust me when I tell you this is as clear as a film can get. Perhaps that is what makes this such an effective film.

This is the story of a solitary man by the name of Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) who happens to fall in love with the complete opposite Clementine Kruczynsky (Kate Winslet). Joel is quiet, reserved, shy, and not impulsive. Clementine is free spirited, talkative, and very impulsive. Still they manage to find a connection, but soon they start getting tired of each other. Joel makes a comment that breaks their relationship beyond repair, and Clementine leaves. Soon Joel realizes he misses her, and wants to reconcile only to find out Clementine has had a procedure erasing him from her memories.

Then he goes and gets the procedure done too, but during this, in his dreams he comes to understand that he truly loves her and can not do without her. So as his memories of her disintegrate he desperately uses his mind to save one last bit of her.

What I described above will not appear on the film conventionally. This film starts one way, moves another, and ends back the same way. This is not your grandmother’s narrative, but it works on many levels. This is a clever and innovative movie. I don’t think I have quite seen anything like it.

One thing this movie does so well is making us feel something for the characters. We fall in love with them, and as the last fragment of Clementine is being erased from Joel we sympathize for him. We too become engulfed in the dream, and reach for Clementine. That is one thing Kate Winslet is so good at, creating characters that are in many ways real people. With Clementine she brings a charisma and charm. I had a crush on Clementine. I wanted to be with her as much as Joel did. This is the most lovely role I have seen Kate Winslet take on, still with all her acting skills used to the maximum.

Also, I think it is safe to say that this is Jim Carrey’s best performance I have ever seen. The funny man is not only funny and great, but he can take on a serious role too. He is perfect for this role, he is the only Joel I could have imagined. He is awkward, and looks the part of the semi depressed lonely man that gets no amusement from life.

There is a dream quality to this film that makes it soar in beauty. I could not get it out of my head, and felt like I had dreamed everything. Yes, I felt like this movie was all just a dream. Not one that shakes you in your sleep and wakes you in the middle of the night, but one that leaves you wanting to stay in it more time. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless mind is a dream of a movie, one that takes you on a simple yet lovely journey. This is the most unique and wonderful love story I have ever seen.

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind