Gigantic

Gigantic

When it comes to family and relationships, there are no small surprises.

Synopsis: Brian (Paul Dano) a run of the mill mattress salesman has wanted to adopt a Chinese baby since he was young. As he precedes closer to his goal, he becomes involved with a young client named Happy. (Zooey Deschanel) Brian soon finds out that the family he thought he didn't need is exactly what he yearns for.

Breakdown: Gigantic is about family and how each one is messed up in it's own right. That doesn't make a movie. It was like watching a hodge podge mixture of scenes that didn't necessarily come to together in the end. There didn't seem to be any centralized idea or theme other than family is messed up sometimes and relationships can be messy. Then to completely throw a wrench into the mix, Brian has random throw downs with a homeless man that turns out to be himself??? This is also never explained. The ending is what saves this movie.

Paul Dano and Zooey both do a great job of playing quirky off the wall characters. John Goodman plays Happy's dad was comical at best. The movie was choppy and boring at some spots and way too exciting at others.

Overall: It's a movie that tries to be an indie success story very hard.

Rating : 3 stars

wanna know more?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1176251/

State of Play

State of Play

Find the Truth

Synopsis: After the murders of a drug junkie and and innocent pizza boy are linked to the suspicious suicide of congressman Stephen Collings (Ben Affleck) assistant and mistress. Reporter Cal McAffrey (Russel Crowe) and blogger for the Washington Globe Della Frye (Rachel McAdams) find themselves working on a story that is thick with government conspiracy. As Cal and Della dig deeper into the mystery involving Collings mistress, Sonia they soon find that Collings was set up by a corporation on the brink of privatizing and controlling homeland security. With time running out and the Globe's new management putting a hold on their story, Della and Cal needs to find a credible source that hasn't died yet.

Breakdown: A I wrote the synopsis for this one I feared I'd run out of blogging room. State of Play was a decent suspense thriller but it lacked a certain consistency. While the plot was generally centralized it shot off in several different directions that at times felt contrived and made the movie slightly hard to follow. Cal starts by following one story and then switches to the next one and then back to his original lead. At the same time he is dealing with his inappropriate relationship with Colling's wife, butting heads with his editor (Helen Mirren), and attempting to help his old college bud who is Collings the congressman. Della's character was good and well formed but seemed almost useless, she did very little to advance the story on her own accord and seemed more like Cal's assistant. The ending attempted a twist surprise but actually ended up coming off more like "now what is going on"?

Acting was solid all around. I'm not a huge Crowe fan but he did a pretty good job. McAdams I thought did good for what she was given, her role was like as mentioned before almost not needed. I give props to Jason Bateman who plays the sleazy source that ends up being the last piece of the puzzle. He did a great job!

Kevin Macdonald directs State of Play and the pacing and flow were good but the plot just didn't quite keep it all together for me.

Overall: State of Play was entertaining and while it's not some blow your mind thriller it's definitely worth a rental.

Rating: 3&1/2 Stars

wanna know more?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473705/

Factory Girl

Factory Girl

When Andy met Edie, life imitated art.

Synopsis: When Edie Sedgewick(Sienna Miller) and Andy Warhol(Guy Pearce) meet there is an instant electrical spark. Andy quickly befriends Edie and introduces her to the infamous Factory where his best creations are born. A cess pool or creativity, sexuality, drugs and art Edie is pulled in immediately and becomes entranced. Andy decides to make Edie a superstar and so she becomes one. However things run paper thin for Edie after a brief affair with a musician(Hayden Christiansan) that pushes Andy away for good. Broke and brokenhearted Edie wanders down a path of drugs, broken promises and hopeful redemption.

The Breakdown: Factory Girl is like watching a very beautiful and hypnotic train wreck. You wanna look away but you just can't. You can't help but feel sorry for her, and can't help but feel like Warhol was a dick!

Sienna Miller is absolutely mesmerizing as Edie Sedgewick. Capturing a Kate Hepburnesque presence she captures Edie's ability to make a room freeze in time. Guy Pearce does an amazing job recreating Andy Warhol that is spot on.

Overall: It was a short peek into a life that was cut way to short.

Rating: 4 stars

wanna know more?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0432402/

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

No one can survive becoming a legend

Synopsis: Mark David Chapman(Jared Leto) came to Ney York city in hopes of meeting his idol John Lennon. As infatuation soon turns to obsession he comes to the conclusion to shoot John Lennon. Along the way Mark encounters several new yorkers who lean all to soon that there was indeed something just not right.

Breakdown: Chapter 27 is a quick snapshot of what the viewer assumes a very disturbed individual. I was slightly disappointed by how the movie only chronicled Mark David Chapmans three days in New York City and not more of his life and how he arrived at such a fanatical state. However after learning about Chapmans obsession with Catcher in the Rye and the very title itself alludes to the alleged 27th chapter of said book. It made sense. The internal narrative was great and I thought moved the story along in the same fashion that J.D. Salainger wrote Catcher in the Rye. The end where Chapman begins to breakdown and doesn't know if he is or isn't gonna shoot Lennon was well done. I felt nervous almost as I watched (leto) pace across the screen and heard his frantic voice. However those who didn't read Catcher in the Rye I feel may be left in the dark a bit. Chapter 27 is definitely aimed at not the typical viewer but one who may have to do a little homework.

Jared Leto should have gotten a commendation on his job. Not only did he have to do twice the work (act and voice over), but he underwent physical changes including gaining an outstanding 67 pounds. He pulls off such an amazing job and is truly convincing playing a man who has become truly unhinged. Not to mention the stress of basically having to carry the movie, with little to no supporting characters his only help is Lindsey Lohan who plays Jude a fellow Lennon fan that Mark befriends.

There were a few slow parts but overall the movie flowed quite well. I love how J.P Schaefer (director) mixed the end scenes with actual footage from Lennon's death.

Overall: Chapter 27 is a disturbing look into a killers mind as he approaches the moments before he kills John Lennon.

Rating: 3&1/2 stars

wanna know more?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0488988/