Side Effects may include

Steven Soderbergh's latest film Side Effects had me hooked from the long, opening tracking shot that panned from a zoomed-out city shot, graaaaadually, over to a zoomed-in shot of a single apartment. So in the span of the first minute or so, you already have the feeling of a single, lonely individual somehow stuck in the cold, mechanical structure of society. 

That kind of thoughtfulness is rampant in this movie. Then, halfway though, the movie jumps genres. Everyone in our living room watching the movie let out a collective "Whaaaaaaattttttt?!??!?!" Great commentary on our proclivity to prescribe and the power of scorn/greed.

You should probably see it.

Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5  pills.

Storytelling Animals

Jonathan Gottschall's The Storytelling Animal has been my pleasure reading for the past week. If I wasn't in my final two weeks of Seminary I would probably write more, but I'll just say that this book was really engaging. I blitzed through it. Gottschall explores how and why human beings are addicted to fiction... so much so that we even create it in our sleep! The notion of story serves no apparent purpose, yet it has defined/motivated/explained human activity for millennia.

His name is Mud

Saw Mud last night.. The poster (and even the trailer, to some extent) are misleading. It is not a tough-guy tale of Matthew McConaughey fighting for the love of his life, Reese Witherspoon. Well, it is, but only sort of. Really, it is a great coming-of-age-type story about a 14-year old boy, his best friend, and their adventures that teach them much about manhood, sex, love, hope, trust, and snakes. Those damn snakes. The two best "reviews" so far, that I have heard, came from my wife and friend right after we left the theater.

Luke: "I feel like it was a really good movie.... but I can't say exactly why...."

then 10 minutes later, walking home

Vicky: "I was constantly surprised! I never knew what was going to happen next!"

This is an impressive feat for a film that is over 2 hours and really takes its time divulging information. And yes, McConaughey's shirt does come off, but this is an "indie" film, so they make you wait 110 minutes for it.





Rating: 4 out of 5 snakes

Cosmopolis

What a beautiful movie. The dialogue and cinematography make for a hypnotic combination. The characters speak as though they are members of two societies—one that you want to live in, and one that you are afraid you already do. This movie is not necessarily accessible, but is poses funny and fascinating questions about wealth, technology, politics, time, power, and more. Pattinson is great.

Also, I never thought I would watch the hunky vampire from Twilight get a rectal exam in a limousine while lecturing an employee on her financial and sexual acumen.

Grace and Law, Sing Along!

Everybody started freaking out about Les Miserables, and I didn't get it. When Hathaway and Jackman started winning awards for the their performance in it, I didn't get it. Then I saw the movie.
Now I get it.


I mean, good God, just look at this image...

...and try not to get emotional.

I was never big on musicals (though I'll never forget the first DVD I ever purchased), but damn, Victor Hugo knew what he was doing. The treatment of Grace is incredible: Javer was a formidable villain, a powerful picture of the attraction and ultimate futility of the Law, and Russell Crowe was not nearly as poor a singer as I was led to believe.

I think everyone on earth can relate, in some degree, to Jean Valjean's struggle for redemption that lasts a lifetime. Are we ever free from our sketchy past? How many good deeds are required to absolve ourselves? I mean, if I told you this guy could sing like an angel possessed, you would laugh, right?

Agony & Ecstasy

For Cinema, Arts, & Theology class we are exploring the life and work of various artists in reality and on film. In The Agony And The Ecstasy Charlton Heston plays a somewhat petulant Michelangelo, squaring off against Pope Julius II (Rex Harrison). Their relationship is actually quite touching. For some reason I found myself more empathetic towards the Pope. I know, I know, tortured artists must be anti-social, defiant, self-absorbed, etc. Interesting themes of calling vs. burden, ego vs. humility, and, well, love. Why do we subject ourselves to an emotion that exposes us to such lows and highs, such agony and ecstasy?

Looper

I was skeptical about seeing Looper. I thought a man literally battling his future self would be foolish. I was wrong.

It possesses many strengths and advantages inherent in the genre of Science Fiction (exploration of the obtuse, cool future gadgets, etc.) but none of its weaknesses (mercurial pacing, flat acting, etc.). The questions it raises about destiny, love, and what is worth living (or dying) for are rather profound. I want and love completely different things than I did even 5 years ago; I can't imagine 25 more.

Also, there were no less than three moments in the film that had me leaning forward, about to fall out of my chair, doing the Home Alone style face, complete with my palms on my cheeks. Very unpredictable and engaging!