Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Movie Review: People Life Us (2012)

"People Like Us" is a bit predictable at times but overall a satisfying drama with some grit to it.  Sam (Chris Pine) is a corporate barterer in New York, who is good at his job but makes a deal that breaks Federal Trade Laws.  Sam's boss tells him to bribe an FTC official in order to escape prosecution.  When Sam gets home things get worse when his girlfriend Hannah (Olivia Wilde) breaks the news that Sam's estranged father Jerry has died of cancer in LA.  Sam tries to avoid the funeral but ends up in LA visiting his mother Lillian (Michelle Pfeiffer), though their meeting is tense.  Jerry's lawyer gives Sam something from Jerry - a shaving kit that contains $150,000 in cash with a note to deliver it to Josh Davis.  The note gives an address and directs Sam to "take care of them."  When Sam investigates the mysterious Josh he finds that Josh (Michael Hall D'Addario) is the troubled son of Frankie (Elizabeth Banks) and Frankie is apparently Jerry's illegitimate daughter.  Sam is drawn to Frankie and Josh but at the same time he is tempted to keep the money for himself.  Sam also is dealing with his estranged relationship with Jerry, while Frankie also deals with abandonment issues due to Jerry dropping out of her life when Lillian forced him to "choose" between his wife and son and this other family he had with Frankie and her mother.

I liked this movie more than I thought I would despite some predictible plot points. and uncomfortable moments.  The cast is overall engaging, especially Elizabeth Banks.  I felt that Banks really stole the movie with her portrayal of struggling single-mom and abandoned daughter Frankie.  Michael Hall D'Addario does a good job as Frankie's troubled son, Josh.  I felt that Chris Pine was a bit overshadowed by Banks' and D'Addario's performances and the small but powerful turn by Michelle Pfeiffer as Pines' character's mother.  I liked that this drama had some grit and a real dilemma.  Both Sam and Frankie had real issues stemming from their estranged relationship with their shared father.  Sam also had the added issue that he was tempted to walk away from his father's wish and keep the money for himself.  These issues made this movie a notch above some of the more average dramas - people in this film really have problems to work out and it's not easy watching them do it. 

This is not perfect but it's got good acting and more teeth than a lot of dramas out there.  Solid "B."

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Movie Review: Hysteria (2011)

"Hysteria" is a period film set in the 19th century when women would be diagnosed as "hysterical" for a list of issues including sleeplessness, nervousness, depression, cramps, exhaustion, and so on.  A young doctor Mortimer Granville (Hugh Dancy) joins the established practice of Dr. Robert Dalrymple (Jonathon Price), which treats hysterical women in an, ahem, interesting way (called "pelvic massage)."  Mortimer soon meets the elder doctor's two very different daughters: the proper and dutiful Emily (Felicity Jones) and the outspoken feminist Charlotte (Maggie Gyllenhaal).  A new treatment for hysteria is invented when Mortimer and his friend Lord Edmund St. John-Smythe (Rupert Everett) find a new use for an electrical feather duster.  What we know as a vibrator is born and hysteria as a diagnosis falls out of fashion.

Though it's a bit predictable, this film is enjoyable and shows some heart.  Gyllenhaal is perfect for this part as the fiery Charlotte.  Though she can be a bit shrill at times I think Gyllenhaal was the right choice for this role.  Everett is a treat in his small role as well.  I really liked the theme developed within the film juxtaposing hysteria and feminism, which we see in the storyline for Charlotte.  Quality acting in this one with some laughs mixed in.  Be sure to watch the scenes played through the credits! 

Solid B for me for good story and acting





Movie Review: Damsels in Distress (2011)

Two words I'd choose to describe "Damsels in Distress" are "quirky" and "different."  This film is definitely not for everyone because it's off-beat for sure.  The film is directed by Whit Stillman and though I'm not familiar with his other work, apparently off-beat is his style.  The film centers on a liberal arts college where a clique of girls attempt to better their campus with some seemingly different tactics.  The group is led by Violet (Greta Gerwig) and her side-kicks are Rose (Megalyn Echikunwoke) and Heather (Carrie MacLemore).  The girls recruit transfer student Lily (Analeigh Tipton) based on her name but she proves to be a voice that questions the group's shared beliefs.  The group attempts to stop students from committing suicide with doughnuts, coffee, dance, and aromatherapy.  Problems arise for the group members themselves testing their sanity when they branch out to date some of the male students including a smooth-talking Adrian Brody as Charlie. 

The comedy in this movie is not of the obvious variety but it's there in the whole premise.  The girls seem to live in a bubble or fantasy of their own making, which creates humorous situations.  I really liked Gerwig in this movie as she's carrying most of the humor.  It's interesting but not a real plot so I can see where this film would get tedious and maybe frustrating for some viewers.  I'd recommend this one to someone who likes Wes Anderson's films or in the mood for high-brow humor.  Solid B for me because I like different and bought into the fantasy.