January's Movie Review

First movie I saw in January was one I was waiting for! Two Arrested Development alums and a sassy and pretty leading lady. I was pumped, I didn’t even expect it to be funny but it just might be the funniest movie I’ve seen since anchorman? I want to watch again. I’ve also seen a few other good ones that I liked quite a bit! Its a good month for movies. One of them is from 1999 and i picked up the DVD finally since I was tired of having it on my to-see list.

Juno, Magnolia, Cloverfield, Shoot Em Up —

Juno – A-
starring the fabulous Ellen Page, Cera, Bateman, Garner

I almost gave this movie an A, I loved it that much. Its humor is specific though, and I wouldn’t consider it an all time classic in the same vein as Forrest Gump. But it is close. This tale of a sassy sarcastic girl who gets pregnant is full of emotions, realistic reactions and extremely witty lines. The comedic timing and delivery by Dwight from the Office (although he doesn’t last long), the ‘cheese to my macaroni’ miss Juno and her pops. If you have ever laughed at Gilmore Girls, you, like me, will bust a gut in Juno. That isn’t to say its a comedy, it is quite dramatic and interesting from a plot perspective. The artsy style is a bit napoleon dynamite but the movie I find quite different than that similarly dopey high school low budget flick. The humor is fabulously delivered and smart, not doofus-stupid. And the subject matter is heavy and the turning points seem normal yet not oversimplified. Great movie, or as Juno/Leah would say, it’s boss. Honest to blog.

Magnolia – A – -
starring Cruise, C. Reilley, H. Macy, Moore

The movie starts out with a story of coincidence, I really liked the opening story and was pumped for this movie that has been recommended to me based on my enjoyment of crash and other multi-plot movies.

Magnolia is about people, and where they came from and where they are now. It sounds really vague but to be more specific you see and learn about people and then either learn about their past through another character or they do something to change their future. It is all interwoven to have some cohesion but its quite loose actually. I didn’t mind the loose plot, it wasn’t the selling point of the movie. I just enjoy the reflection on humanity and consequences of actions. It was a very heavy movie, but I like that kind.

Cloverfield – B+
starring dopey guy, cool guy and mega babe

Shaky camera story of people and something knocks the head off the statue of liberty and it lands at the base of their apartment complex in Manhattan in the middle of a party. Ya, its crazy for the hour after that. I saw lots of it coming if i really tried, but I didn’t really try to figure it out or focus on the plot. I was mostly trying really hard to make out the images from the shaky cam. I liked this style, it seemed more genuine, like i was actually there. Just make sure you don’t get motion sickness or have a headache (I had a headache and had to close my eyes at times). Seriously though, it avoided lots of lame things like some stupid contrived ending. And ya, it had some basic movie elements in there, but they were the kind that i wanted to see. I just agreed with all the choices of JJ Abrams, and it was quite enjoyable! Not for everyone.

Shoot Em Up – B
starring Owen, Giamatti, Bellucci

I seem to have seen a lot of Clive Owen lately, I didn’t even realize who he was or if he was that famous but here he is, headlining lots of movies I like! (Inside man, Children of Men and this one) I prefer this one to his others actually. Shoot Em Up has many things that have been done many times before. A mysterious quiet hero who has a no nonsense style about him. A girl who initially is coy or scared. And Giamatti is some cackling villain with a big voice big riddles and a big ego. He does it very well and is one of my favorite actors considering his range. (I loved him in Cinderella Man) Shoot Em Up is just that, a simple shoot em up, but its fun, and doesn’t try to do something and fail at it. If you want to see some shooting, some clever use of carrots, and some sassy lines, this is a movie for you. Warning for some crude sex and violent content, at the same time even.