00s Movie Review - Lost in Translation

Director: Sofia Coppola
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 101 minutes
Year: 2003
Starring: Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovanni Ribisi, Anna Faris

Description: A faded movie star (Bill Murray) and a neglected young woman (Scarlett Johansson) form an unlikely bond after crossing paths in Tokyo.

Review: Bob Harris and Charlotte are two Americans stranded in a luxurious hotel in Tokyo. Bob Harris is a faded movie star in his fifties, who came to Japan for a whiskey commercial and to take a break from his marriage. Charlotte is a recently graduated twenty something woman who followed her photographer husband. Both Bob and Charlotte can’t sleep and meet each other in the bar. What starts with an innocent smile grows out into an unlikely friendship between an older man and a young woman.
The story was written by Sofia Coppola and she also directed the film. Coppola has always been known as ‘the daughter of’ Francis Ford Coppola, director of “The Godfather” series and “Apocalypse Now”. Her earlier film “The Virgin Suicides” was already praised, but “Lost in Translation” was her big break as a director.
Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson are both fantastic in “Lost in Translation”. Especially Murray, with his subtleness in his body language and the melancholy his character has. And Johansson is great too as a young woman who doesn’t know what to do with her life yet. Together they form a very sympathetic duo. It’s such a breath of fresh air, to finally see a couple that doesn’t immediately go into romance mode or have sex. It’s a subtle relationship, connection, bond.
“Lost in Translation” has a lot of melancholy, but is never melodramatic. The movie has many funny moments as well, but again very subtle.
“Lost in Translation” is a movie that is beautiful because of its simplicity. A movie that’s in my top five of all-time favorite movies.

Rating: 5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Brokeback Mountain

Director: Ang Lee
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 134 minutes
Year: 2005
Starring: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, Randy Quaid, Anna Faris, David Harbour, Kate Mara, Linda Cardellini
 
Description: Ennis (Heath Ledger) and Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) are two shepherds who develop a sexual and emotional relationship. Their relationship becomes complicated when both of them married to their respective girlfriends

Review: Happiness sometimes depends on the choices you make in life. Sometimes you wish you did things differently. One word or one touch could make such a difference, but you didn’t do anything. “Brokeback Mountain” also deals with such key moments. 
Even before “Brokeback Mountain” was released, it was one of the most talked about films of the year. Two cowboys, the model of ultimate manhood, that fall in love is obviously a fascinating given. But by just saying it’s about gay cowboys, you’re not doing it justice. It’s not about homosexuality, it’s about love in its purest and simplest form. A story about how people choose to live their lives, about a world that doesn’t really give them a choice, about suppressed feelings and about letting go. 
 The movie tells the story of young cowboys Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, who work together during the summer of 1963 in the mountains of Wyoming. The two develop a close bond which eventually turns into a sexual relationship, much to their own surprise. At the end of the summer, Ennis and Jack both go their own way. Both men get married and start a family, but the memories of their time in Brokeback Mountain are dear to them. When they meet up again after years, it’s still as that last time in Brokeback Mountain. 
 The love between Ennis and Jack is impossible, it’s in a time that the love between two men isn’t accepted. Director Ang Lee could have easily turned it into a melodramatic film, but he managed to find the right tone. I’ve never seen a film where two such rich, complete and complex characters managed to expose the relationship in such an honest, true and sharp way. The pace is slow and so are the developments, but in this film it’s a positive thing. Invest in the characters and you will be rewarded. 
 “Brokeback Mountain” is carried by two great leading actors. Both Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal are fantastic. Ledger shines as the introvert Ennis. He is afraid to choose for what he really wants. Gyllenhaal’s Jack is a bit more complex. He doesn’t want to live in a lie and fantasizes about a life with Ennis. The choices we make have effect on our happiness, that’s something “Brokeback Mountain” shows us. 
 A fantastic, touching and heart felt film, one of my all-time favorites.

Rating: 5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Director: Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Genre: Animation/ Family
Runtime: 90 minutes
Year: 2009
Starring: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Mr. T, Bruce Campbell, Benjamin Bratt, Neil Patrick Harris, Al Roker, Lauren Graham, Will Forte, Andy Samberg

Description: Local scientist Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader) is often regarded ad a failure until he invents a machine that can make food fall from the sky. But little does he know, that things are about to take a turn for the worst.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 16: A MOVIE BASED ON A CHILDREN’S BOOK

Review: “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” is the debut film of Phil Lord and Chris Miller. Flint Lockwood still lives with his father in a town that is known for sardines. In his room, he works on his inventions and every single one of them has turned into a disaster. Until he creates a machine that turns water into food and it actually works. By accident, the machine gets up in the air and all of a sudden it starts raining food.
The set-up is pretty standard. Flint has a struggling relationship with his father, he meets journalist Sam Sparks that also likes ‘nerdy stuff’ and both relationships and Flint’s journey to success are going to develop towards the end. In between there is enough to enjoy both visually and comedically.
“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” is definitely a fun animation, with an enjoyable story based on the children’s book by Judi and Ron Barrett. A great family film.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 18: Movie 43

Director: Elizabeth Banks, Bett Ratner, Bob Odenkirk, Steven Brill, Steve Carr, Rusty Cundieff, James Duffy, Griffin, Dunne, Peter Farrelly, Patrick Forsberg, Will Graham, James Gunn, Jonathan van Tulleken

Genre: Comedy

Runtime: 94 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Kate Winslet, Hugh Jackman, Anna Faris, Chris Pratt, Richard Gere, Kate Bosworth, Halle Berry, Stephen Merchant, Live Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Terrence Howard, Elizabeth Banks, Josh Duhamel, Kieran Culkin, Emma Stone, Chloë Grace Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Uma Thurman, Jason Sudeikis, Kristen Bell, Justin Long, Leslie Bibb, Gerard Butler, Johnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott, Jeremy Allen White, J.B. Smoove, Jack McBrayer, Aasif Mandvi, Bobby Cannavale, Patrick Warburton, Jimmy Bennett, Matt Walsh, Adam Cagley, Devin Eash

Description: A series of interconnected short films.

Review: That a cast filled with Hollywood’s finest actors isn’t a guarantee for a good movie, is made painfully clear by “Movie 43”. In the US the movie got criticized and smashed by the audience and after seeing it myself I know why. It’s a comedy that simply isn’t funny, that barely has a script and has the goal to show the audience raunchy and ridiculous sketches. For instance, Kate Winslet going on a blind date with Hugh Jackman who has testicles under his chin, Halle Berry making guacamole with her boob and Elizabeth Banks who gets peed on by an animated cat. One sketch is even worse than the other.

Why all those actors and actresses (some with Academy Award wins and nominations) wanted to be in this movie, is a mystery. The movie is vulgar, obscene, nasty and especially really unfunny. You know how many times I laughed? Not once! The only reason to watch this movie is to see with your own eyes how terrible “Movie 43” is. But please, run away from it as fast as you can!

Rating: 0,5/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Celebrity Couples

Celebrity couples hardly ever last, with off course you occasional exception. But that doesn’t mean we can’t love them and hope for their relationship to stay. I have my fair share of favourites in Hollywood, here is my top five of most beloved celebrity couples (both have to be celebrities).

5. Ellen Degeneres and Portia de Rossi

I always love it how Ellen talks about Portia on her show. This is such a great couple.

 

 

4. Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks

This is one of those rare exceptions. This couple has been married since 1988! And every time I see them on TV or on pictures, they still look so happy.

 

 

3. Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield

They have great chemistry on screen, but are also adorable together in real life. If I were gay, I wish I were Andrew Garfield.

 

 

2. Emily Blunt and John Krasinski

This is how my marriage would be, they are amazing together. They aren’t very public about it, which I like. And they have an adorable baby girl names Hazel.

 

 

1. Anna Faris and Chris Pratt

They rule. I think both actors are hilarious and they are an awesome couple. They were made for each other, because they both have a great sense of humour and quirkiness. And they have a cute son Jack.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, Charlize Theron and Sean Penn, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake, Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig, Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 11: I Give It a Year

Director: Dan Mazer
Genre: Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 97 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Rose Byrne, Rafe Spall, Simon Baker, Anna Faris, Minnie Driver, Stephen Merchant, Olivia Coleman, Jason Fleyming

Description: Newlywed couple Nat (Rose Byrne) and Josh (Rafe Spall) are deliriously happy despite their differences, though friends and family aren't convinced that they can last. With their first anniversary approaching and attractive alternatives in the mix, can they last?

Review: After a short romance, Nat and Josh decide to get married. That there are many big differences between them doesn’t bother the couple. Their family and friends do question the marriage.
“I Give It a Year” starts where most other romantic comedies end. The film tries to flip the genre upside down by showing us what happens when two people in love get married. It’s an interesting starting-point, but it still has many romcom clichés in it. For example that the leading characters discover that someone else is the one for them. It does have a cynical tone to it, but some of those jokes are a big miss. Especially some situation, that are meant to be funny, just aren’t. The film is one big akward moment.
Rafe Spall, who plays Josh, was only a supporting actor so far. His somewhat immature character is really sympathetic. Rose Byrne has the unfortunate task the play the most uncongenial character: the perfectionistic and ambitious Nat. It’s a lot like Helen, who she portrayed in “Bridesmaids”. Minnie Driver on the other hand is hilarious as Nat’s crude sister. Olivia Coleman, as the weird therapist, really overdoes it. She totally lost herself in the role, which makes it over the top. As a viewer you are more drawn to the charming Josh then the up stuck Nat.
“I Give It a Year” tries to give the term romantic comedy another dimension to go a little further. The makers didn’t achieve it and is missing its balance. One missed shot.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

In the Picture: The Characters from "Lost in Translation"

Because this (amazing) movie only has two major characters, it gives me the room to really analyse them. As fantastic as they both are, here are the characters from one of my favorite films "Lost in Translation".

Bob Harris
Played by: Bill Murray
Bob Harris is an aging American movie star. He arrives in Tokyo where he is filming an advertisement for Suntory Whiskey. Although he will receive 2 million dollars for it, he's not enjoying working there or staying in this busy city. When he meets Charlotte in the hotel bar, he finally finds some fun. Bob is a kind man with humor and he's also very thoughtful. He has a wife and kids, but doesn't really seem to miss them when he's staying in Tokyo.

Charlotte
Played by: Scarlett Johansson
Charlotte traveled to Tokyo with her husband, who is a celebrity photographer. Although Tokyo is a busy city, Charlotte feels alone and her husband is so busy that they can't even spend time together. She is trying to kill the time in her hotelroom, but decides to go to the bar instead, where she meets Bob. A meeting she will never forget. Together they explore the nightlife of Tokyo. Charlotte finds a new friend in him. Charlotte is a calm, nice and faithful woman and sees the beauty in little things.

John
Played by: Giovanni Ribisi
John is Charlotte's husband. He brought her along on his trip to Tokyo, but has to leave her alone for his work. John is a hardworking man an passionate about his job, but doesn't really see what he's got.

Kelly
Played by: Anna Faris
Kelly is an old friend of John's and a Hollywood actress. She isn't very smart, naive and extremely superficial. Charlotte doesn't say it out loud, but she doesn't like Kelly.

Favorite Character: Bob Harris

Movie Tip #21 - Lost in Translation

Director: Sofia Coppola

Starring: Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovanni Ribisi, Anna Faris

Description: Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is an American film actor, far past his prime. He visits Tokyo to appear in commercials, and he meets Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), the young wife of a visiting photographer. Bored and weary, Bob and Charlotte make ideal if improbable traveling companions. Charlotte is looking for "her place in life," and Bob is tolerating a mediocre stateside marriage. Both separately and together, they live the experience of the American in Tokyo. Bob and Charlotte suffer both confusion and hilarity due to the cultural and language differences between themselves and the Japanese. As the relationship between Bob and Charlotte deepens, they come to the realization that their visits to Japan, and one another, must soon end. Or must they?

Review: Sometimes the most simple stories make the best films. This movie is the example. However Bob and Charlotte are in the bussiest city on the planet, they feel alone. An uncommon but beautiful friendship arises from their meeting. One reason why I love this movie is because it's so realistic. The characters are so real and it's easy to identify yourself with them. Another thing was the acting. Bill Murray at his best and Scarlett Johansson has won over my heart with this film. The movie is not cliché or sentimentel, it's just honest. I can watch it over and over again!

Movie Tip #18 - Brokeback Mountain

Director: Ang Lee

Starring: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Michelle Williams, Randy Quaid, Linda Cardellini, Anna Faris, Kate Mara

Description: In the Summer of 1963 Wyoming, two young men, Ennis (Heath Ledger) a ranch hand and Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) an aspiring rodeo bull rider, are sent to work together herding sheep on Brokeback Mountain, and what had otherwise been anticipated to be a rather uneventful venture, will soon turn into an affair of love, of lust, and complications that will spand through 19 years of their lives. Through marriage, through children, and through the mighty grip of societal confines and the expectations of what it is to be a man.

Review: It's a love story that starts out without love and finishes with a love that never ends. "Brokeback Mountain" is so much more than merely a "gay cowboy movie". It perfectly captures what true, unbridled love is all about and this love transcends any issues of sexuality or gender.Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhall are magnificent and if not for them, I think this film would have been a massive disappointment. Instead just thinking of Ennis and Jack's stolen embrace and kiss in broad daylight after being apart for four years is enough to make my heart skip a beat and my stomach lurch. Everything about that scene is perfect. This movie is perfect. It's just a wonderfull movie, that I can watch over and over again.