20s Movie Review - Conclave

Director: Edward Burger
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 120 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, John Lithgow, Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini

Description: When Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with leading one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events, selecting a new Pope, he finds himself at the center of a web of conspiracies and intrigue that could shake the very foundation of the Catholic Church.

Review: A conclave is the private process by which the most devout men of the Catholic Church come together to elect a new Pope.

The Pope has died in his sleep. Cardinal Lawrence is given the task of leading the conclave. He is not happy about that, as he was just about to resign his position at the Vatican. The lobbying begins even before the trial has begun, and the the unknown Archbishop Benitez shows up.

You might expect “Conclave” to be a religious drama, but it’s not. It’s a thriller, almost political. It’s conservative versus progressive. And just like any political election, there are secrets that surface.
Ralph Fiennes is the perfect choice to play Cardinal Lawrence, a tormented soul. Stanley Tucci is a perfect “wing man”. John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini are also very strong in their roles.

Although the pace is slow, the tension is high and the film keeps you engaged from start to finish. I was surprised at how much I loved this film.

Rating: 4/ 5

10s Movie Review - The Hunger Games

Director: Gary Ross
Genre: Adventure/ Action/ Dystopia/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 142 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, Wes Bently, Donald Sutherland, Toby Jones

Description: Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) voluntarily takes her younger sister's place in the Hunger Games: a televised competition in which two teenagers from each of the twelve Districts of Panem are chosen at random to fight to the death.

Review: The plot of the by Suzanne Collins written book is promising. Lead character is Katniss Everdeen, who lives in Panem, the new name for the completely destructed North America in a near future. Panem is divided in districts, where the 13th district is already gone. As a punishment, the twelve districts have to deliver one boy and girl to attend the Hunger Games. In this battle only one will come out alive, everyone will literally fight ‘till the death. When Katniss’ sister Primrose is the chosen one for the 74^th Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to go herself.

All the tributes are dropped in a forest and the people of Panem are watching them every move. The Hunger Games are a big event. It all starts even before the games, where all the tributes have to win over the audience in order to get sponsors.

Jennifer Lawrence is a worthy leading lady and she carries this film easily. She is an underdog, yet a fantastic heroine. Katniss doesn’t want to be a hero though, she is just as afraid as everyone else. But she chooses to fight for her life, without having to kill everyone in sight.

The plot is pretty cruel, but it’s softened a bit to make it more appropriate for a broader audience. That’s okay, because the film’s story is still pretty disturbing.

“The Hunger Games” is a good book to movie adaptation and a great start to a strong franchise.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Review - Supernova

Director: Harry MacQueen
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 93 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Colin Firth, Stanley Tucci, Pippa Haywood, Peter MacQueen, Nina Marin, Ian Drysdale, Sarah Woodward, James Dreyfus, Lori Campbell, Daneka Etchells, Halema Hussain
 
Description: Sam (Colin Firth) and Tusker (Stanley Tucci) are traveling across England in their old RV to visit friends, family and places from their past. Since Tusker was diagnosed with dementia two years ago, their time together is the most important they have.

Review: Concert pianist Sam has put his career on hold to care for his partner, American writer Tusker. We follow them on perhaps their last trip together, or at least on which Tusker will remember everything they have experienced together in the locations they now revisit. The fact is, he has been diagnosed with dementia. And with his condition worsening, both men can already feel the storm brewing: that the day is fast approaching when the writer will no longer recognize his beloved Sam.
“Supernova” is a very intimate drama film. As a viewer, you mainly share their camper in which they travel through the British countryside together with the dog. On their way to the concert hall where Sam has a performance for the first time in ages. Tusker had to work hard to make Sam play again. They visit a lake where they once declared their love for each other, stare at the clear starry sky, and visit some of Sam’s family as well. Bu mostly the bicker, trying to hide their dark feelings and their pain from each other.
A film that has so little to it stands or falls on the acting skills of its two lead actors. And with Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci you do breathe life into characters like Sam and Tusker. A detail is that the actors were actually cast for each other’s role, but independently got the idea during rehearsals that they would be better of switching characters. I believe both Firth and Tucci convinced us in their roles, because their performances are amazing. And I love them together as well.
Most of the film is them talking. You really have to pay attention to everything they say, since some details later prove to be important. And it’s part of getting to know the central characters before any substantial complications are thrown into the mix. You get to hang out with two of the most sympathetic actors, which characters you sympathize with quite easily as well. That makes “Supernova” a pretty enjoyable watch.

Rating: 4 / 5

10s Movie Review - Easy A

Director: Will Gluck
Genre: Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 92 minutes
Year: 2010
Starring: Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Dan Byrd, Thomas Haden Church, Patricia Clarkson, Stanley Tucci, Cam Gigandet, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell, Fred Armisen

Description: A clean-ct high school student relies on the school’s rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing.

Review: High School student Olive is a wallflower and is pretty much invisible. Her best friend Rihannon gets more attention after she told everyone she had sex. Olive thinks it wouldn’t harm anyone if she starts a rumor herself, about losing her virginity. This rumor spreads faster than she could have ever imagined.
The story doesn’t sound all that special, but it’s the execution of this story that is almost brilliant. And Emma Stone is fabulous in “Easy A”. This is the movie that introduced me to her and I have been a major fan ever since. Her portrayal of Olive is just great and she is actually one of my favorite female movie characters. Her parents, played by Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson, are great too. They are so funny, I love them in this film. And Amanda Bynes, as Jesus freak Marianne, is really funny as well.
I’m not a fan of romantic comedies, but when there is more com then rom, I tend to like them more. “Easy A” is one of those films, I love this movie! “Easy A” gets an A+!

Rating: 5/ 5

90s Movie Review - The Pelican Brief

Director: Alan J. Pakula
Genre: Thriller/ Crime/ Drama/ Action
Runtime: 141 minutes
Year: 1993
Starring: Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Sam Shepard, John Heard, John Lithgow, Stanley Tucci, Tony Goldwyn, Robert Culp, William Atherton

Description: A law students (Julia Roberts) uncovers a conspiracy, putting herself and others in danger.

Review: When two Supreme Court justices are murdered, everyone is groping in the dark for the culprit and his motives. Law student Darby Shaw, however, is determined to find out the truth. And so she sets out to investigate. The end result is a theory that initially seems too bizarre for words. Nevertheless, Darby incorporates her theory into a preliminary, speculative dossier, soon dubbed “The Pelican Brief”. After a while, this report makes its way to the highest levels of government, where it causes major shock waves. Together with investigative journalist Gray Grantham, Darby decides to make her discoveries public. At least, if they manage to survive.
“The Pelican Brief” is not one of the best films based on a John Grisham novel. It’s still a pretty good film though. There is enough tension and the acting is really strong. It’s probably the subject matter that makes the film a lot less gripping than that of movies like “A Time to Kill” or “The Rainmaker”. It’s fairly dull subject matter and the pace is slower.
But because of Denzel Washington (who doesn’t really have a bad movie) and Julie Roberts this movie is still one I would recommend.

Rating: 3 / 5

00s Movie Review - The Lovely Bones

Director: Peter Jackson
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Crime/ Fantasy
Runtime: 135 minutes
Year: 2009
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, Michael Imperioli

Description: Centers on a young girl (Saoirse Ronan) who has been murdered and watches over her family - and her killer - from purgatory. She must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal.

Review: “The Lovely Bones” sows that last days of Susie Salmon’s life and her first steps into heaven. Susan is a 14 year old girl, who dreams of becoming a photographer. Her life abruptly ends when she is brutally murdered. Her parents start a search for the killer. Meanwhile, Susie is in the ‘inbetween’, a place where the dead end up when they aren’t ready for heaven yet. And she watches how her father becomes obsessive in his search for the man who killed his daughter.
The film looks magical, the ‘inbetween’ looks beautiful.
Stanley Tucci and Saoirse Ronan are the two highlights of the film. Both performances are solid and strong. Ronan fits the dream world perfectly and Tucci is creepy as the sinister Harvey. He gets totally lost in his role and it’s really hard to imagine someone else in this role.
The tempo of the film is not that solid though. Sometimes it’s fast paced, sometimes it’s a bit of a drag. And the tone of the film sometimes switches too, which makes it a bit messy here and there. This doesn’t fit the dreamy world at all.
It’s really hard to rate this film, because it’s a really beautiful movie. It looks gorgeous and has some really good performances. And the story is beautiful as well. But there are some inconsistencies here and there. A case of ‘the book was better’ is in place here, but I still really enjoyed the film.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

10s Movie Review - Muppets Most Wanted

Director: James Bobin
Genre: Comedy/ Adventure/ Family/ Musical/ Crime
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey, Ty Burrell, Zack Galifianakis, Tom Hiddleston, Ray Liotta, Danny Trejo, Christoph Waltz, Josh Groban, Céline Dion, Peter Serafinowicz, Usher Raymond, Salma Hayek, Stanley Tucci, Lady Gaga, Chloë Grace Moretz, Hugh Bonneville, Tom Hollander

Description: While on a grand world tour, The Muppets find themselves wrapped into an European jewel-heist caper headed by a Kermit the Frog look-alike and his dastardly sidekick.

Review: In 2010 The Muppets made their comeback with an amazing film that was filled with humor, emotion and great music. Off course there had to be another sequel, hoping for that same success.
In “Muppets Most Wanted” the Muppets go on a world tour, led by Dominic. They don’t know that Dominic actually has some evil plans, he is the right hand of Constantine, the most dangerous frog in the world and Kermit’s doubleganger. During the tour, Dominic makes sure Kermit and Constantine switch places. Constantine will tour with the Muppets and Kermit will be send to the Goelag. This way Constantine and Dominic can plan big heists in each city the visit.
The movie starts with a fun song about sequels, mocking Hollywood and themselves. Sequels are never as good, but bring in the money. This is also the fact for “Muppets Most Wanted”. It’s never the same level as “ The Muppets” from 2011. It’s still a fun movie, with lots of humorous moments and fun cameos. And the songs are fun too.
I likes Ricky Gervais as villain Dominic and I especially loved Ty Burrell as the French Interpol agent. And I have to admit, The Muppets always make me smile. No matter what.

Rating: 3 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 53: Beauty and the Beast

Director: Bill Condon
Genre: Romance/ Musical/ Fantasy
Runtime: 129 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Kevin Kline, Ewan McGregor, Emma Thompson, Ian McKellen, Stanley Tucci

Description: An adaptation of the fairy tale about a monstrous-looking prince (Dan Stevens) and a young woman (Emma Watson) who fall in love.

Review: As a little kid, I was never a girly girl. Wasn’t into princess stuff. But the animation “Beauty and the Beast” was an obsession. I love how intelligent, well read and kind Belle was. She saw past the looks, wanted to see more of the world and didn’t settle for mediocre. So I was super excited to see “Beauty and the Beast” being turned into a live-action film.
The film isn’t an exact copy of the animation, but it kept the essentials. But director Bill Condon also added some new characters, songs and scenes. And normally, for nostalgia sake, it would bother the hell out of me. But is surprisingly didn’t. The magic is still present, the main characters feel familiar and the songs are beautiful.
The casting is perfect. Emma Watson is a wonderful Belle and Dan Stevens does a very good job as Beast. Luke Evans is a very convincing Gaston and I really enjoyed Josh Gad as Le Fou. Kevin Kline as Maurice is also a very good choice and all the voice actors (like Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Emma Thompson and Ian McKellen) were chosen perfectly.
While watching this adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast”, I had a smile on my face from beginning ‘till end. I love it!

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 24: Spotlight

Director: Tom McCarthy

Genre: Drama/ Thriller

Runtime: 128 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Live Schreiber, John Slattery, Brian D’Arcy James, Stanley Tucci, Billy Crudup

Description: The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.

Review: Marty Baron, the new boss at The Boston Globe, is very honest on his first day: he wants to write a story about the sexual abuse by Catholic priests and he wants the whole world to know about it. That’s easy to say for Baron, because not only is he Jewish, he also has no connection to the conservative and close community that is Boston.

The journalist team Spotlight notices that people have looked the other way for many years, when local priest John Geoghan structurally molested children in various parishes. And when they dig deeper, they stumble upon more priests. The church settled with many victims and their parents, but some priest just joined another parish. It’s clear that the church has power.

Director Tom McCarthy isn’t so much attacking the Catholic church with “Spotlight”, but he is raising questions to why no one did anything, when lots of people clearly knew about it. We also learn that many of the victims didn’t want any publicity or were afraid.

“Spotlight” is very detailed, just look at the hundreds of cubicles at The Boston Globe. And the actors had an eye for detail while preparing for their roles. This film is made with a lot of dedication.

Michael Keaton, who already played a convincing editor in “The Paper”, succeeds again in his role as Walter Robinson in “Spotlight”. His most fanatic journalist is Michael Rezendes who focuses on the legal side of everything. He is played by Mark Ruffalo. This is the best performance in the film. Rachel McAdams plays Sacha Pfeiffer. She gets the tough task to interview the victims. Also a very strong performance.

“Spotlight” is a strong biographical drama about investigative journalism, with strong performances and a disturbing story.

Rating: 5/ 5

Quotables: "Easy A"

When I read the synopsis of “Easy A” I thought it was going to be one of those standard teen comedies, with oversexed teenagers. Well, it wasn’t anything like that. It’s one of my favorites of all-time and it made me love Emma Stone. And she’s the star, with a lot f fantastic quotes. Here are my favorites.

Olive Penderghast: I just thought of the funniest thing. My name is an anagram for "I love".
Anson: What... what's an anagram?
Olive Penderghast: [stares in disbelief for a second before recovering] Look it up big boy.

Brandon: Is there an Olive here?
Rosemary: There's a whole jar of them in the fridge!

Principal Gibbons: This is public school. If I can keep the girls off the pole and the boys off the pipe, I get a bonus.

Dill: The family member of the week gets to pick the movie.
Olive Penderghast: You get family member of the week every week.
Rosemary: And there's a reason for that.
Olive Penderghast: Yeah, you pick family member of the week!
Rosemary: Are you accusing me of nepotism?

Olive Penderghast: Whatever happened to chivalry? Does it only exist in 80's movies? I want John Cusack holding a boombox outside my window. I wanna ride off on a lawnmower with Patrick Dempsey. I want Jake from Sixteen Candles waiting outside the church for me. I want Judd Nelson thrusting his fist into the air because he knows he got me. Just once I want my life to be like an 80's movie, preferably one with a really awesome musical number for no apparent reason. But no, no, John Hughes did not direct my life.

Dill: After we watch "The Bucket List," remember to cross "watch 'The Bucket List'" off our bucket list.

Olive Penderghast: I used to be anonymous, invisible to the opposite sex. If Google Earth were a guy couldn't find me if I was dressed up as a 10-story building.

Woodchuck Todd: Screw all these people, Olive!
Olive Penderghast: Haven't you heard? I already did.

Rosemary: Not to mention how have you been dressing this past few day. No judgement, but you kind of look like stripper.
Olive Penderghast: Mom!
Dill: [to Olive] A high-end stripper, for governors or athletes.

Rhiannon: George is not a sexy name. George is like what you name your teddy bear, not the name you wanna scream out during climax.

Olive Penderghast: Ironically, we were studying "The Scarlet Letter", but isn't that always the way? The books you read in class always seems to have a strong connection with whatever angsty adolescent drama is being recounted. I consider this. Except for "Huckleberry Finn", 'cause I don't know any teenage boys who have ever run away with a big, hulking black guy.

Olive Penderghast: That's the beauty of being a girl in high-school: people hear you had sex once and BAM - you're a bimbo.

Rosemary: We're a family of late bloomers - I didn't until I was 14 and nor did Olive.
Chip: Why does that matter - I'm adopted!
Dill: [Freaking out] What! Oh my god! Who told you? Guys we were going to do this at the right time!

Olive Penderghast: [to Brandon as she takes off her panties] Relax. Jesus. What is with you gays? Are you really that repulsed by lady parts? What do you think I have down there? A gnome?

Olive Penderghast: I might even lose my virginity to him. I don't know when will it happen. You know, maybe in five minutes, or tonight, or sixth months from now, or maybe on the night of our wedding. But the really amazing this is, it is nobody's goddamn business.

Movie Moments: "The Hunger Games"

"The Hunger Games" is definitely one of the coolest and most fantastic movies I've seen this year. And it's full of great moments, recognizable for those who read the book. Here are my favorite scenes.

Moment # 1: Hunting
Katniss is hunting and sees a deer. She is about to shoot it when Gale appears and the deer runs away.

Moment # 2: Gale’s plan
Katniss and Gale are talking about the hunger games. Gale has a plan, he says they could run away. But Katniss doesn’t think they’ll make it.

Moment # 3: The reaping
The day of the reaping has come and Effie Trinkett is about to pick the tributes. When she pulls out the girls name, she calls out Prim’s name. She’s scared and Katniss volunteers as tribute. Peeta is the male tribute for district 12.

Moment # 4: Gale’s promise
Katniss and Gale have a few minutes before she has to leave. He tells Katniss that she can hunt and that she will win. Katniss wants him to promise her that he’ll take care of her family and that Gale doesn’t let them starve.

Moment # 5: Meeting Haymitch
Katniss and Peeta meet Haymitch Abernathy, the man who’s supposed to get them ready for the hunger games. He’s drunk and not really in the mentoring mood.

Moment # 6: Tribute parade
Peeta and Katniss take part in the tribute parade. They surprise everyone with their flaming costumes.

Moment # 7: “Thank you for you consideration”
Katniss has to show of her skills in the last evaluation. She gets a bow and arrow and misses the target. Gamemaker Seneca Crane and his fellow watchers start laughing and stop paying attention. Even when Katniss does hit the target. All of a sudden Katniss shoots an apple, in the middle of the crowd and thanks the men for their consideration.

Moment # 8: Eleven
Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch, Effie and Cinna are waiting for the evaluation. Peeta got an 8 and Katniss and 11. She’s officially the favorite of the hunger games.

Moment # 9: The night before
Katniss and Peeta can’t sleep and have a conversation the night before the hunger games.

Moment # 10: Cinna and Katniss say goodbye
Cinna is the last person Katniss sees before she enters the hunger games arena. He gives Katniss her jacket and he put the mockingjay pin on it. Katniss is getting scared and when she’s in the tube she realizes that this is it.

Moment # 11: Cornucopia
The countdown starts and all the tributes are standing in the cornucopia. When the clock stops, all the tributes start running and fighting for their lives. Katniss grabs a bag and runs into the woods.

Moment # 12: Tracker Jackers
Katniss was chased by some tributes from district 1 and 2. She is in a tree and when she wakes up she sees Rue. She points to a hive of Tracker Jackers, genetically manipulated wasps. Katniss cuts the branch and the hive falls down. The other tributes run for their lives and Katniss has time to get away.

Moment # 13: Rue dies
Katniss is attacked by Marvel, but she strikes first and kills him. But Rue is also hit and dies in Katniss’ arms. She makes sure Rue gets a proper burial.

Moment # 14: Gale sees Katniss and Peeta kiss
Katniss found a wounded Peeta and decides to take care of him. Peeta wants to know why she helps him and Katniss kisses him. Gale sees it on t.v. an is annoyed by it.

Moment # 15: Hounds
The gamemaker wants some action and sends some blood thirsty hounds after Katniss and Peeta.

Moment # 16: Katniss and Peeta win
After Cato was killed by the hounds, Peeta and Katniss are the only two ones left. Adjusted rules say they won, but again there is a change. Only one of them can win and Peeta thinks it should be Katniss. Katniss doesn’t agree and she gives Peeta some poisonous berries. They both want to eat them, so there will be no winner this year. Right before they eat them, the game is stopped and Peeta and Katniss win the game.

Moment # 17: Katniss sees Gale
Katniss and Peeta return to district 12 and Katniss sees that Gale kept his promise. He’s with Prim and her mother, who both seem happy to see her. When Peeta sees Katniss looking at Gale and smiling, he grabs her hand.

Favorite Moment: Moment # 13: Rue Dies

In the Picture: The Characters from "The Hunger Games"

I read the books and yesterday I finally saw the movie. I have been looking forward to this for so many months. Here are the characters from “The Hunger Games” and I’m going to apologize in advance, I picked two favorites….

Katniss Everdeen
Played by: Jennifer Lawrence
Katniss is 16-years old and lives with her mother and younger sister Primrose. After her father dies in an mine explosion, she hunts to provide for her family and she’s the glue that keeps the three of them together. When Prim’s name is called out during the reaping, Katniss volunteers as tribute for the Hunger Games. She promises her sister she will try to win the games and during the training she catches the eye of the viewers. She has to act like she’s in love with Peeta in order to survive and to earn sponsors. Katniss is a fighter and a survivor and does everything to return to her sister.

Peeta Mellark
Played by: Josh Hutcherson
Peeta is the son of a baker and the male tribute for District 12. He has been in love with Katniss for a long time. Peeta is loyal and brave, but can also act very arrogant.

Gale Hawthorne
Played by: Liam Hemsworth
Gale is Katniss’ best friend and hunting partner. When Katniss leaves for the Hunger Games, he promises her to take care of her family. Gale calls her “Catnip”. He is a true friend, because he keeps his promise and may even have feelings for Katniss. When he sees her kiss Peeta, he isn’t happy about it.

Haymitch Abernathy
Played by: Woody Harrelson
Haymitch is Katniss’ and Peeta’s mentor and a former Hunger Games winner from district 12. He is drunk, or at least under the influence of alcohol, most of the time. He sends Katniss gifts throughout the games to help her survive.

Cinna
Played by: Lenny Kravitz
Cinna is Katniss’ stylist. He’s a sly and witty man and clever with his fingers and even smarter in the mind. His fantastic design for Katniss’ clothes, increases her popularity. Cinna has a strong connection with Katniss.

Effie Trinket
Played by Elizabeth Banks
Effie is the District 12 escort and always happy and bubbly. She has a very colourful appearance and helps Katniss and Peeta to get sponsors. Effie is constantly bickering and arguing with Haymitch. She also hates it when people don’t have proper etiquettes.

Caesar Flickerman
Played by: Stanley Tucci
Caesar is a TV-host and interviews the tributes before they enter the Hunger Games. He’s an extravagant man, with bright blue hair and pearly white teeth who knows exactly how to entertain a crowd.

President Snow
Played by: Donald Sutherland
President Snow is the president of Panem. He is loved by many and hated by maybe even more people. Mostly the ones in the lower districts. Snow is vicious and can’t stand the fact that Katniss was so smart during the Hunger Games.

Seneca Crane
Played by: Wes Bentley
Seneca is the head gamemaker of the 74th Hunger Games. He is appointed by President Snow and his job is to maximize the excitement of the Hunger Games. He looks very confident but remains aware he's at the President’s mercy.

Favorite Character: Katniss Everdeen and Gale Hawthorne (sorry, couldn’t choose)

Movie Moments: "Easy A"

I really love this movie... a whole lot!! Emma Stone rocks and she plays one of the most awesome characters ever. Here are my favorite scenes from "Easy A".

Moment # 1: Opening monologue
We meet Olive, a high school student who used to be invisible and as she says she’s a nobody. There are two sides to every story and this is her story. The right one.

Moment # 2: How Olive spends her weekend
Because Olive is trying to get out of spending the weekend camping with her friend Rhiannon and her parents, she makes up a guy named George who she’s meeting over the weekend. Than we see how Olive really spends her weekend. She receives a card from her grandmother playing the song “Pocket Full of Sunshine” by Natasha Bedingfield. Olive says it’s the worst song ever, but she starts singing it the entire weekend.

Moment # 3: “I’m adopted”
Olive, her brother Chip and their parents are sitting in the kitchen. When Chip tells Olive he likes her pants, Olive tells him he can have ‘em when he’s bigger. Mom Rosemary says it didn’t happen to her and Olive until they were 14. Than Chip says he’s adopted, so It wouldn’t be the same for him. Dad Dil says “Oh my God, who told him”.

Moment # 4: Abominable twat
When in class, Mr. Griffith is talking with his class about the book “The Scarlett Letter”. How the leading lady wears a red A for adultery. One of Olive’s classmates, Nina, gives here a sneer. Olive response: “You abominable twat”. With that Olive gets sent to the principal’s office.

Moment # 5: Grounding Olive
Olive tells her parents about what happened in school and that she got punished for saying a bad word in class. Because her brother can’t hear what she said, she has to spell it with her pees. Parents say it is a bad word and try to ground her, because they clearly can’t think of a descent punishment.

Moment # 6: Brandon loses fake virginity
After talking to Brandon, Olive makes a deal. She is going to pretend to have sex with Brandon, so everyone thinks he lost his virginity, because Brandon is actually gay and he gets picked on a lot.

Moment # 7: The red “A”
Because of the book “The Scarlett” letter and all the rumors going on in school, Olive decides to wear a red “A” on her clothes. With this she proves that she doesn’t care about what other people say.

Moment # 8: What happened to chivalry
While doing the livestream on the internet, Olive shares a thought. Quote: “Whatever happened to chivalry? Does it only exist in 80's movies? I want John Cusack holding a boombox outside my window. I wanna ride off on a lawnmower with Patrick Dempsey. I want Jake from Sixteen Candles waiting outside the church for me. I want Judd Nelson thrusting his fist into the air because he knows he got me. Just once I want my life to be like an 80's movie, preferably one with a really awesome musical number for no apparent reason. But no, no, John Hughes did not direct my life".

Moment # 9: Todd drives Olive home
After her date went wrong, Todd drives Olive home. She tells him everyone thinks she’s a whore. Todd tells her he never believed the rumors. When Olive finds out that Rihannon was Todd’s first kiss, she tells him she had feelings for him. Todd tells her he wants to kiss her, but she won’t let him. Not in this situation, Olive wants it to be perfect.

Moment # 10: Olive gets her 80’s movie
When Olive finishes her story, she tells everyone that Todd is waiting outside. She might lose her virginity, but when “that’s none of you goddamn business”. Todd is waiting with a boombox in the air like John Cusack, takes her away on a lawnmower like Patrick Dempsey and puts a fist up in the air like Judd Nelson.

Favorite Moment: Moment # 2: How Olive spends her weekend

In the Picture: The Characters from "Easy A"

I recently saw this movie and it's full of interesting characters. Here are the characters from "Easy A".

Olive Pendergast
Played by: Emma Stone
Olive is a clean-cut high school student. She's very smart, anonymous and (so she says) a nothing. After avoiding a camping weekend with her best friend Rhiannon and her parents by saying she has a fictive date, a rumor was born. Rhiannon thinks Olive had sex with this 'guy' so Olive lies about it. The rumors spreads so fast, everyone in the entire school knows about it. Because they are reading "The Scarlet Letter" in school Olive decides to wear a red A on her clothes and she wants everyone to know she doesn't care about the rumors. Olive is starting to like all the attention she gets and she helps guys in her school to 'lose their virginity'. Not for real, but they can mention Olive's name. Olive soon realizes that if you have the reputation of a skank, people will treat you like that too.

Marianne Bryant
Played by: Amanda Bynes
Marianne is the one who spreads the rumor about Olive. She leads this we-all-love-God-and-Jesus group and thinks Olive is repulsive for for what she's doing. Marianne want's to 'save' Olive and wants her gone.

"Woodchuck" Todd
Played by: Penn Badgley
When Todd and Olive where in 6th grade, they prentented to have kissed. Ever since Olive had a crush on Todd. Todd is a very kind guy and the school's mascotte. He is one of the only people who doesn't believe the rumors that are spread about Olive and admits to her he likes her.

Rhiannon
Played by: Aly Michalka
Unlike Olive, her best friend Rhiannon is populair and she did have sex. She is a real skank, but people aren't really paying attention to that. Rhiannon is pissed when Olive becomes more populair than her after the rumors. Especially when Olive goes on a date with Anson, Rhiannon's crush. Olive feels guilty about it, but after hearing that she was Todd's first kiss she doesn't feel that guilty anymore.

Mr. Griffith
Played by: Thomas Haden Church
Mr. Griffith is Olive's favorite teacher. He also doesn't believe all the rumors about Olive. He talks to Olive on a different level than the other students, because she actually reads to books for his class and understands them.

Mrs. Griffith
Played by: Lisa Kudrow
She's married to Mr. Griffith and the guidance counselor at school. Mrs. Griffith does believe the rumors and actually takes advantage of them after one of her students got chlamydia from her. Mrs. Griffith started an affair with one of the students, because she isn't happy in her marriage.

Dil Pendergast
Played by: Stanley Tucci
Dil is Olive's dad. He's a very open minded and 'cool' dad. He has a great sense of humor and truly gets Olive.

Rosemary Pendergast
Played by: Patricia Clarkson
Rosemary is Olive's mom. She's the perfect woman for Dil, because she's just as open minded. Rosemary is open about sex and talks about it with Olive. She even shares with her that she used to be a skank in high school and she slept with a bunch of people (mostly men).

Favorite Character: Olive Pendergast