00s Movie Review - Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Director: Sidney Lumet
Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2007
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney, Marisa Tomei, Rosemary Harris, Michael Shannon, Amy Ryan

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 35: A CRIME THRILLER
 
Description: When two brothers (Philip Seymour Hofman, Ethan Hawke) organize the robbery of their parents’ jewelry store the job goes horribly wrong, triggering a series of events that sends them, their father (Albert Finney) and one brother’s wife (Marisa Tomei) barreling towards a shattering climax.

Review: Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke play two brothers in need of money. Hoffman’s Andy seems successful, but is struggling financially due to his drug addiction, among other things, while Hawke’s Hank can’t afford the alimony for his ex-wife and daughter. They decided to rob a small jewelry store. Not to mention that this store is owned by their own parents. Andy is the brains behind the operations and Hanks has to carry out the plan. Of course, this plan goes horribly wrong and only gets worse later.

It's a simple story and the details aren’t complicated either. But director Sidney Lumet decided to change the structure of the story. We are only following one character at a time, and go back in time to see the perspective of the other brother. I think this is what makes this movie better. There is no reason for using this structure, but I think it really adds to the story of the film. Otherwise, it would be pretty standard.

The performances are very good. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke both do a great job in their respective roles. The same goes for Albert Finney, who has a smaller role as their father. Marisa Tomei is a fantastic actress, but is demoted to a side character that seems to only be there as the beautiful wife that shows her boobs a bit too often. Tomei is underused and misused in this film, that was a big problem for me. Because she is so much more than this.

“Before the Devils Knows You’re Dead” is a strong crime thriller, with a cool storytelling structure.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Someone Like You

Director: Tony Goldwyn
Genre: Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 97 minutes
Year: 2001
Starring: Ashley Judd, Hugh Jackman, Greg Kinnear, Marisa Tomei, Ellen Barkin

Description: After being jilted by her boyfriend, a talk show talent scout (Ashley Judd) writes a column on the relationship habits of men which gains her national fame.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 14: A ROMCOM
 
Review: Effortlessly, Ashley Judd, she shone in “Kiss the Girls”, among others, plays sounding big names like Marisa Tomei, Ellen Barkin and Hugh Jackman off the screen. But to say they know how to save the film is going too far: the weak script with dull dialogues meant that the film was already hopeless from the start.

One cheesy one-liner after another. Jane has a certain theory about men: one a man has slept with a certain woman, he loses interest in her and she is nothing more than an old cow. And she doesn’t stop talking about it. She writes a column about it, together with her best friend Liz and she tries to refine the theory.  

Throughout the film, Hugh Jackman’s character Eddie is around her. Both at work as at home, when Jane is forced to find a new living space and moves in with him. It’s very obviously they are supposed to move closer to each other, but it takes so long for this to happen.

“Someone Like You” is a bland and standard romcom, that only appealed to me because of its leading lady.

Rating: 2/ 5

10s Movie Review - The First Purge

Director: Gerard McMurray
Genre: Horror/ Thriller/ Action
Runtime: 98 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Y’lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, Joivan Wade, Mugga Patch Darragh, Marisa Tomei, Luna Lauren Velez, Kristen Solis, Rotimi Paul, Mo McRae, Jermel Howard, Siya, Christian Robinson, Steve Harris, Derek Basco, D.K. Bowser, Mitchell Edwards, Maria Rivera, Chyna Layne

Description: America’s third political party, the New Founding Fathers of America, comes to power and conducts an experiment: no laws for 12 hours on Staten Island. No one has to stay on the island, but 5,000 dollars is given to anyone who does.
 
Review: For a film that both the press and audiences weren’t hugely excited about at the time, 2013s “The Purge” turns out to have a remarkably long run. I liked the first movie and also enjoyed “The Purge: Election Year”, “The First Purge” doesn’t really add anything to the franchise. Even though it’s an interesting premise, getting to know how it all started. It’s pretty much the same as all the other editions and isn’t captivating whatsoever.
This first edition of the purge is smaller in scale. This is because it is a pilot taking place on Staten Island, the district of New York. The fact that this island was chosen as a test location because of its representativeness for the rest of the country seems rather out of the blue. The populations shown consists purely of ethnic minorities of low social status, many of whom engage in drug trafficking or other crimes. In any case, it doesn’t look like a place where the police would drop by, so a night when the authorities don’t turn up and everyone is left to fend for themselves shouldn’t exactly be considered a completely new situation.
Anyone who wants to preserve their lives would do well to leave the island for a night, but there is a way around that: those who stay get an allowance from the government that many can only well use. The allowance is even a bit larger with active participation in the purge. While previous films in the “Purge” series have shown some of the atrocities that people are capable of when protected from prosecution, this part seems to focus on what people without money are willing to do to improve their financial situation. But as often in this film series, very little is done with this potentially interesting fact. The only ones who really get to kill are those who would probably do so without the purge.
It is hard to believe that someone who is permanently rigid with aggression would restrain for 364 days a year because he fears legal prosecution. And what about a drug lord who tries to kill his competitor, only to have the latter destroy him? Does that really require a Purge? Drug criminals in general pay very little attention to prevailing laws when it comes to protecting their power status.
This is an unnecessary film, that even Marisa Tomei couldn’t save. “The First Purge” is a waste of your time.

Rating: 1,5/ 5

20s Movie Review - Spider-Man: No Way Home

Director: Jon Watts
Genre: Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 148 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jacob Batalon, Jon Favreau, Jamie Foxx, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, Benedict Wong, Tony Revolori, Marisa Tomei, Angourie Rice, Thomas Haden Church, Rhys Ifans, J.K. Simmons

Description: With Spider-Man’s identity revealed, Peter (Tom Holland) asks Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.  

Review: “Spider-Man: No Way Home” begins where the previous installment ended. The identity of the New York hero is out in the streets and his reputation is blackened by videos from The Daily Bugle. This has such a negative impact on the lives of Peter and his friends that he decides to visit his friend Dr. Strange, who morosely agrees to use magic to make everyone forget that he is Spider-Man.

*** WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS ***

This, of course, goes disastrously wrong, and the result is that a whole group of villains from other universes (the other Spider-Man movie series) enter the scene. From the Green Goblin to Otto Octavius.
Marvel and Sony flawlessly tap into the nostalgia of a generation that grew up with the Spider-Man films from the early 2000s. And it’s a delight to see some of the villains return. Dr. Otto Octavius is one of them, but seeing him wasn’t that big of a surprise, since he was in the trailer. Electro, who was in “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”, is a lot more interesting here then he was in the other film. And Jamie Foxx seems to be having more fun too. We also see Lizard and Sandman, who don’t have major roles but are pleasant additions to the group of villains. The real stunner though is Willem Dafoe, who surprisingly returns as Norman Osborne aka The Green Goblin. His maniacal face expressions and laugh really make him the great villain that he portrays in “Spider-Man: No Way Home”.
The thing I most liked about the film was the return of Tobey Maguire and especially Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/ Spider-Man from other universes. It would have been amazing if it was a complete surprise, but social media really ruined that for me with all its spoilers. But it was still a great moment when both of them entered this universe. And can we take a moment to talk about Andrew Garfield. Because, even though he is only in the movie for a short time, he was the highlight for me. I’ve always said he was the best Spider-Man of the three, even with his movies not being the best of the bunch. Garfield has the best comedic timing, he uses his intelligence to defeat his enemies and is the most confident and charismatic of the three. I like Maguire and Holland as well, don’t get me wrong, but I clearly have a favorite. And Garfield’s Spider-Man has a beautiful redeeming moment, where he managed to save MJ, reminding us of the fact that he wasn’t able to save his girlfriend Gwen.
“Spider-Man: No Way Home” comes off as surprisingly dark and mature and that makes an impact. But there is still room for some comedy.
“Spider-Man: No Way Home” is the best film in this series, with Tom Holland as Spider-Man, who again does a very good job. The film has a character-driven plot, which I loved, and I enjoyed the returning characters. This movie put a smile on my face.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Spider-Man: Far From Home

Director: Jon Watts
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 129 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Tony Revolori, Angouri Rice, Remi Hii, Martin Starr, Cobie Smulders, J.B. Smoove

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 40: A MARVEL MOVIE

Description: Following the events in “Avengers: Endgame”, Spider-Man (Tom Holland) must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever.

Review: The number of superhero movies has become so large that it is becoming increasingly difficult to oversee everything. The various reboots that have been presented to the audience in a short time don’t make it any clearer. You have to invest heavily to stay updated and today it’s also a must to see every movie in the MCU, because they interweave and events in one movie will affect another. “Spider-Man: Far From Home” is the second part of the second Spider-Man reboot. This movie completes phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“Spider-Man: Far From Home” cleverly builds on previous events. Peter Parker, a teenager, is still broken about the death of Tony Stark. The man that made him an Avenger. But Peter needs a break, which comes in the form of a school trip to Europe. He is too busy planning a way to win over MJ’s heart, that he even doesn’t pack his costume. Don’t worry, Aunt May packs it for him. But when they are in Venice, it’s soon clear that Spider-Man has no time for a break. And he meets the local hero Mysterio.
Marvel took a risk by resetting the adventures of Spider-Man for a second time, but also by making Peter Parker a teenager. Tom Holland with his youthful appearance and ditto spirit is cut for the role. He is my favorite Peter Parker. As a young Peter Parker he not only has to play the superhero, but he is also in the middle of puberty and dealing with lots of teen problems. But this is not my favorite series, that’s still the original with Toby Maguire. It feels more authentic and the new series changed way too much, I prefer the old-school Spider-Man.
Which doesn’t mean I don’t like this film. I liked “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and I really enjoyed “Spider-Man: Far From Home”. Mostly because Tom Holland is such a breath of fresh air to watch and he does such a great job as Peter Parker/ Spider-Man.
I liked the villain, although the reveal was a bit predictable. I think everyone knew who it was. The execution of it is really clever and inventive though. And Spider-Man has a serious opponent in him.
Overall, “Spider-Man: Far From Home” is a highly entertaining film, with an excellent Tom Holland.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - The Big Short

Director: Adam McKay
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 130 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Brad Pitt, Marisa Tomei, Rafe Spall, Jeremy Strong, Melissa Leo, Margot Robbie, Selena Gomez, Karen Gillan, Finn Wittrock, John Magaro, Hamish Linklater, Jay Jablonski

Description: In 2006-2007 a group of investors bet against the US motgage market. In their research they discover how flawed and corrupt the market is.

Review: “The Big Short” is based on the true story of fraud within American banks, right before the financial crisis. Four outsiders try to expose these banks and want to make money from it at the same time. Dr. Michael Burry starts this, when he discovers that most mortgages aren’t as safe and secure as they seem. Most banks think he is crazy and there are only a few others that believe him.
The cast of “The Big Short” is one to be proud of. They are all big names in Hollywood and are all seemingly enjoying the roles they’re playing. Christian Bale portrays the eccentric Dr. Michael Burry, Steve Carell is the loud Mark Baum, Ryan Gosling is the slick Jared Vennett and Brad Pitt plays the reluctant Ben Rickert. All characters are well-developed and the performances are fantastic.
And that’s where I’m going to stop with the positive, because aside from this, I hated this movie. And it’s not the director or the style it is filmed in. It’s simply the theme and story. Adam McKay tried so hard to create an intense and interesting film with the somewhat dry material he had. But in my opinion he didn’t manage to do that. At least not for me.
The film is too long and it drags. I think 90 percent of the dialogue and story didn’t interest me at all and sometimes I had no idea what they were talking about. This movie made me feel dumb, but then again I don’t know much about the financial world nor am I interested in it.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad movie. Because it’s well-made and all performances are great. Most critics praise this movie and it’s a typical film for the Academy Awards. “The Big Short” simply didn’t do it for me because of the theme it was dealing with. And if a movie’s theme doesn’t appeal to me and I can’t sympathize with any of the characters, you lose me as a viewer.
A movie not for everyone, and I’m sadly one of the haters. And I don’t often share the more unpopular opinion.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Crazy Stupid Love

Director: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Genre: Drama/ Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Julianne Moore, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon, John Carroll Lynch, Analeigh Tipton, Joey King

Description: A middle-aged husband's (Steve Carell) life changes dramatically when his wife (Julianne Moore) asks him for a divorce. He seeks to rediscover his manhood with the help of a newfound friend, Jacob (Ryan Gosling), learning to pick up girls at bars.

Review: Filmmakers have tried so many times to create a romantic comedy that is liked by women and men. But they have only managed to succeed a couple of times. “Crazy Stupid Love” is one of them.
Cal is a decent, good 40 something guy, with a solid job, nice kids and a beautiful wife. During a nice dinner with his wife Emily, she surprises him with a request for a divorce. Because she slept with someone and they have drifted apart. Cal doesn’t know how to handle the situation and goes to bars, sobbing about his failed marriage. In that bar there also happens to be Jacob, a handsome, smooth talker that can score any woman any night. The two meet each other and Jacob decides to help Cal rediscover his manhood.
Cal and Jacob are the central figures in “Crazy Stupid Love”, but there are other characters struggling with love in many shapes and forms. And it’s one of the strongest elements of the film. All those different characters and their different feelings and emotions, they make sure everyone can relate to someone in this film. “Crazy Stupid Love” is fresh and has some surprising moments.
Every member of this cast seems perfect for their role. There is not one star, they are all equally good. And the humor and drama is in perfect balance.
“Crazy Stupid Love” is probably one of the best film to watch on a date.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 122: Spider-Man: Homecoming

Director: Jon Watts
Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 133 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr., Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Donald Glover, Tony Revolori, Jennifer Connelly, Angourie Rice, Logan Marshall-Green, Martin Starr, Gwyneth Paltrow

Description: Peter Parker (Tom Holland) balances his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens with his superhero alter-ego Spider-Man, and finds himself on the trail of a new menace prowling the skies of New York City.

Review: Spider-Man has always been one of the most popular superheroes. Iron Man got more popular because of the movies and Robert Downey Jr. The two work together in “Spider-Man: Homecoming”.
Spider-Man has had his ups and downs. “Spider-Man 3” couldn’t keep up with the two previous movies. The reboot films did okay, but weren’t as amazing as the title let us believe. Sony and Marvel had to come up with something new to give the popular webslinger the movie he deserves. The result: Spider-Man is part of the shared universe of Marvel. In “Spider-Man: Homecoming” there are many moments were they show us that. Teen Peter Parker is constantly reminded of his adult colleagues. It’s all sounds like a big marketing trick, but it’s all relevant. Peter struggles with the inner conflict of being the little fish in a small pond.
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man was shortly seen in “Captain America: Civil War”. And that guest appearance is the starting point for “Spider-Man: Homecoming”. In a world where superheroes are common, Peter Parker thinks it’s an honor to work with the team of Avengers. But after an experience like that, it’s hard for Peter to pick up his old life. Especially when Tony Starks tells him that he might receive a call, but Peter never does. Spider-Man is in the Marvel universe, but he is not yet an Avenger.
This is the sixth Spider-Man film in fifteen years, so it isn’t good enough to let the superhero just do his tricks and fight a random villain. Marvel is clever enough and uses a lot of variation. The origin story, of how Peter Parker became Spider-Man, is left behind. And it’s not Spidey just swinging from huge buildings, he goes further than that.
What keeps it all together? Tom Holland! Where predecessors Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield were about 10 years to old for the role, the young British actor is perfect to play Peter Parker. His enthusiasm is a breath of fresh air. And his great comedic timing make you almost forget that he is also very capable of performing in more dramatic scenes. Even opposite of veterans like Robert Downey Jr. and Michael Keaton.
Peter Parker still has to prove himself as an Avenger, but this version of Spider-Man promises a very bright future.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Supporting Females in Drama Films

We always focus on the main man or woman in a film, but today I’m putting the supporting characters in the spotlight. Females in drama films to be exact.

5. Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley in “The Imitation Game”)
A very smart woman standing strong doing a man’s job. Joan Clarke believes in Alan Turing and his ideas, she holds the team together.

4. Pam (Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler”)
Pam is the highlight in Randy Robinson’s day. A mother by day, a stripper by night. But there is more to her than meets the eye.

3. Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams in “Spotlight”)
Sacha Pfeiffer was one of the people that revealed shocking news about the catholic church. She is working with men, faces people who share with her very disturbing stories. But Sacha stays strong and only wants one thing: to let people know what really happened.

2. Patsey (Lupita Nyong’o in “12 Years a Slave”)
Patsey is a brave woman. She has to go through so much and still manages to keep smiling. And she keeps doing her job as no other, better than the men doing the same job.

1. Celia Foote (Jessica Chastain in “The Help”)
Celia Foote is an outcast, but her enthusiasm, good heart, naïve look at the world and kind intentions should brighten everyone’s day. She is the only woman (besides Skeeter) that really appreciates the help she gets.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Gerda Wegener (Alicia Vikander in “The Danish Girl”), Charlene Fleming (Amy Adams in “The Fighter”), Minny Jackson (Octavia Spencer in “The Help”), Iris (Jodie Foster in “Taxi Driver”), Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”), Lynn Margareth Bracken (Kim Basinger in “L.A. Confidential”)

Top 5 Thursday: Movie Cameos of 2015

Still looking back on 2015 as a movie year, I’ve started listing the best cameos in movies of that year. It was pretty tough, I had to dig deep. But here are my five favorite cameos of 2015.

5. 50 Cent (“Spy”)

The rapper has been in the acting game for a while now, but in “Spy” he plays himself while on a way to a concert near to the end of the film. Mostly alongside Miranda Hart’s character Nancy.

 

 

4. Daniel Radcliffe and Marisa Tomei (“Trainwreck”)

Radcliffe and Tomei show up in the movie within the movie. Amy Shumer’s character and John Cena’s Steven go and see it. It’s an Indie parody called “The Dogwalker”.

 

 

3. Hugh Jackman (as Wolverine in “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”)

Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon had no idea if he was going to be able to snag Hugh Jackman to voice a picture of Wolverine in Rachel’s room. But when he told him about the scene, Jackman signed on.

 

 

2. Liam Neeson (“Entourage” and “Ted 2”)

Although I wasn’t a huge fan of either of the movies, Liam Neeson makes it all a lot more fun. In “Entourage” he does something we all want to do: he gives Ari Gold the finger. In “Ted 2” he buys a box of US cereal Trix and is concerned it’s just for kids. Really funny.

 

 

1. Mark Hamill (“Kingsman: The Secret Service”)

Mark Hamill pops up as professor Arnold, a scientist that the Kingsmen send Lancelot to rescue. This mission doesn’t go that well though. And Professor Arnold ends up, well…. He explodes.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Stan Lee (“Avengers: Age of Ultron”), Nemo (“Inside Out”)

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 100: Trainwreck

Director: Judd Apatow

Genre: Comedy/ Romance

Runtime: 125 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson, LeBron James, Tilda Swinton, Vanessa Bayer, John Cena, Ezra Miller, Daniel Radcliffe, Marisa Tomei, Method Man

Description: Having thought that monogamy was never possible, commitment-phobic career woman Amy (Amy Schumer) may have to face her fears when she meets a good guy.

Review: Amy is a writer for a popular magazine. She drinks a lot and sleeps with lots of men, because she doesn’t believe in monogamy. Amy takes care of her father who has MS and is close to her younger sister. When Amy has to write a big article about sports doctor Aaron, she realizes she is falling for him. Can Amy have an actual relationship or not?

Amy Schumer is a very popular comedian and has her own sketch show, “Inside Amy Schumer”. With her friendly face she messes with everyone and makes jokes about booze, sex and especially herself. Schumer writes the show herself and director Judd Apatow noticed that. Schumer wrote “Trainwreck” and Apatow directs. And the story is partially based on Amy’s real life. Besides sharing the name, she is close to her sister and has a dad with MS. The movie version is a younger and more enhanced version of herself.

Schumer does fine in her lead role. Besides the jokes she obviously succeeds in, she is also convincing in the more serious scenes. Bill Hader is a good choice for the love interest. Hader, who is also most known for his comedic performances, creates a very likeable character. Although I do prefer him as the funny guy. Surprising is the role by LeBron James, who plays himself, who is really funny. And also Tilda Swinton, who plays the boss from hell. She is normally a very serious ‘ice queen’, she was seriously hilarious n “Trainwreck”.

Amy Schumer is known for her humor and that it might cross some boundaries. She plays the role that normally a man would play in a movie like this. In “Trainwreck” there are a lot of lines crossed, jokes about sex, tampons, monogamy, penises. The plot is standard and there are lots of conventional romcom clichés present. But Amy Schumer’s character makes it all original, that’s why you’re never bothered by it. Two hours is a bit long for a movie like this though.

“Trainwreck” is a fresh romantic comedy with rising star Amy Schumer. The harsh humor and sometimes improvisation, make this movie to a success.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 27: The Lincoln Lawyer

Director: Brad Furman
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Crime
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Phillippe, Marisa Tomei, William H. Macy, John Leguizamo, Josh Lucas, Bob Gunton

Description: Mick Haller (Matthew McConaughey) is a defense lawyer who works out of his Lincoln. When a wealthy realtor (Ryan Phillippe) is accused of assaulting a prostitute, Haller is asked to defend him. The man claims that the woman is trying to get some money out of him. But when Haller looks at the evidence against him, he learns that this case might be linked to an old case of his.

Review: Lawyer Mick Haller works alone and he does that from his luxury Lincoln with driver. He defends the biggest scumbags who are guilty, almost every time. When Mick gets the case of the wealthy realtor Louise Roulet, it’s anything but a walk in the park.
“The Lincoln Lawyer” is the adaptation of the book written by Michael Connelly. I have never been a fan of Matthew McConaughey, but I’m starting to like him a little bit more every day. He was perfectly cast as the slick and macho lawyer, who gets away with almost everything due to his charms.
If you think it’s an average court drama, think again. “The Lincoln Lawyer” has much more in store and has some really good thriller elements. Also the supporting roles of William H. Macy, Marisa Tomei and John Leguizamo where cast very well. Together with McConaughey they make sure this movie never loses its edge and stays exciting.
Although the start looks like it’s going to be predictable, the movie is very solid and I highly enjoyed it.

Rating: 4/ 5

In the Picture: The Characters from "Crazy Stupid Love"

I rewatched this movie recently and I liked it even more after watching it a second time. I also got time to dissect all the characters, so here they are.

Cal Weaver
Played by: Steve Carell
Cal just found out that his wife Emily wants a divorce, because she slept with someone else. After moving in to his own appartement, Cal goes to a bar where he meets Jacob. After this meeting Cal decides to change and to stop sobbing about Emily. Cal is very honest, goodhearted and he will never stop loving Emily.

Jacob Palmer
Played by: Ryan Gosling
Jacob wants Cal to rediscover his manhood. He wants him to change. To be more like him, a womanizer. Jacob is a smooth talker and can get any woman he wants… but Hannah. When he meets Hannah, his view on life changes and he regrets who he used to be.

Emily Weaver
Played by: Julianne Moore
Emily cheated on Cal with a coworker. Emily says that she and Cal had already drifted apart, but when Cal really leaves she realizes how much she loves him. Emily is a very supportive mother and loves Cal deep in her heart.

Hannah Weaver
Played by: Emma Stone
Hannah is a recent law school graduate and is expecting her boyfriend to propose to her. Instead he offers her a job and that’s when Hannah decided it’s time for a change. She goes to meet Jacob in the bar, where she earlier rejected him. Hannah is not like other girls. She’s not afraid to speak her mind and she is out of the ordinary.

Robbie Weaver
Played by: Jonah Bobo
Robbie is the only Weaver boy and madly in love with Jessica, his babysitter. Unlike his dad Cal, he fights for Jessica and will continue until he won her over. For a kid his age Robbie is pretty smart and wise.

Jessica Riley
Played by: Analeigh Tipton
Jessica is the Weavers babysitter. Although Robbie has had a crush on her for a while, Jessica is trying to ignore him. She made clear that she’s not interested in him. Jessica only has eyes for one man: Cal. And now that Emily is out of the way she thinks she stands a chance. Jessica is naïve, but kindhearted.

David Lindhagen
Played by: Kevin Bacon
David is the guy that came between Cal and Emily. He’s a bit of a sleezebag and he’s trying to find his way into the family. Robbie doesn’t really like him, Cal doesn’t and soon no one will.

Kate Tafferty
Played by: Marisa Tomei
Kate and Cal meet each other in the bar and she’s Cal's first girl after Emily. Kate appreciates Cal for his honesty and goes home with him. Cal promises to call her, but he doesn’t and when they meet again it doesn’t end well for Cal. Kate is a very unstable and emotional woman.

Favorite Character: Hannah Weaver