00s Movie Review - The Invention of Lying

Director: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson

Genre: Comedy/ Romance

Runtime: 100 minutes

Year: 2009

Starring: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, Jonah Hill, Jeffrey Tambor, Tina Fey, Jason Bateman, Louis C.K

Description: A comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 26: A ROMANTIC MOVIE 

Review: The film is set in a world just like our, but with the only difference: mankind never “invented” lying. People just have jobs, children, a house, a car. But in the meantime they are 100% honest with each other. And one man, writer Mark, one day is somehow able to lie and uses it to help himself and others. Comedian Ricky Gervais wrote the story and directed the film. But also star in it.

I’ve always liked Gervais’ humor and I enjoy watching him in films. “The invention of Lying” is a fun film, with jokes that may or may not work for you. For me it did most of the time. I really liked the premise of the film and it played out well.

Rating: 3 / 5

Movie Review - The Adam Project

Director: Shawn Levy
Genre: Science Fiction/ Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 106 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, Zoe Saldana, Catherine Keener, Walter Scobell

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE

WEEK 12: A NETFLIX-ORIGINAL MOVIE

Description: After accidentally crash-landing in 2022, time-traveling fighter pilot Adam Reed (Ryan Reynolds) teams up with his 12-year-old self (Walter Scobell) for a mission to save the future.

Review: Anyone who goes to see a movie starring Ryan Reynolds knows what to expect: sarcasm, self-conscious commentary, and many jokes. Whether you like Reynolds or not, you have to admit: his talent for verbally annoying others is undeniable. In the infectious Netflix time-travel film “The Adam Project”, he finally gets a big mouth back. From his 12-year-old self.
The films opens in 2050. Fighter pilot Adam Reed has just stolen a jet and is skimming through space, with an angry pursuer in his wake. Reed is injured, but manages to narrowly escape by flying into a wormhole, which lands him in the year 2022. There he sees how his life as an adolescent once was: playing video games, taking beatings in the schoolyard and making irritating jokes to annoy his grieving mother. 
The conversations he has with himself are deliciously caustic. “How did you get so smart?” asks Adam at one point to his younger self, wo which the latter responds with: How did you get so stupid?” It’s not often we see an exasperated Ryan Reynolds twist himself into so many turns to win an argument with another on the basis of wit. It lends the film a surprising amount of sass.
The dialogue-rich “The Adam Project” is also self-aware enough to poke fun at its own internal logic; time travel causes plot holes one way or another. The longer you dwell on it, the more inconsistencies you will find. The open naming of such pitfalls is a smart move, because it takes the wind out of the sails of even the most skeptical viewers.
Sometimes it gets a bit much, all that bickering. The holy adage ‘show don’t tell’ would have deserved more compliance in that sense. On the other hand, the dynamic between Ryan Reynolds and the talented young Walter Scobell is actually much too funny not to maximize. Besides, you get your share of action in the end, albeit in modest doses.
Fortunately, those action scenes are very smoothly, skillfully and flashily portrayed by Shawn Levy, the director with whom Reynolds previously made the entertaining “Free Guy”. Adam and Adam are on the run from a bunch of futuristic soldiers, let by a villain with rather predictable motives: power and money. And the way the created a younger version of Catherine Keener’s characters is really bad.
The latter is a major weakness in a film that really isn’t so much about action or messing with timeless as it is about dealing with personal trauma. In the final phase, Ryan Reynolds is allowed to squeeze out a few tears and the scope of his performance turns out to be broader than expected. Behind that big mouth, there is of course a lot more hidden. No matter, sometimes it pays to be a nerd.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Reviews - Love, Simon

Director: Greg Berlanti
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Nick Robinson, Jennifer Garner, Josh Duhamel, Katherine Langford, Alexandra Shipp, Logan Miller, Keiynan Lonsdale, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Talitha Eliana Bateman, Tony Hale, Natasha Rothwell, Miles Heizer, Joey Pollari, Clark Moore, Drew Starkey, Mackenzie Lintz, Cassady McClincy, Alex Sgambati, Jamila Thompson, Emily Jordan, Patrick Donohue

Description: Simon Spier (Nick Robinson) keeps a huge secret from his family, his friends and all of his classmates: he's gay. When that secret is threatened, Simon must face everyone and come to terms with his identity.

Review: Filmmakers often struggle with the portrayal of gay characters. They mostly fall into two categories: the funny sidekick that we don’t take too seriously or the man or woman that struggles with his or her sexuality.
Luckily that is slowly changing. It’s a breath of fresh air to see a gay character for whom it’s not an issue who he likes. Simon is mostly blocking his own path. He is close with his parents, he loves his sister and he has a strong bond with his group of friends.
Like Simon states in his voice-over: he is a normal guy, with a secret. Simon knows for a while now that he likes boys. When he discovers on social media, that there is another gay boy in his school, Simon decides to e-mail him anonymously.
“Love, Simon” starts as a standard teen drama, but it’s so much more than that. The guy Simon is e-mailing with, he calls himself Blue, gives him more confidence about his true identity. But when classmate Martin finds his e-mails, he starts to blackmail Simon. And it’s not that he is ashamed of being gay. That not the reason why he doesn’t want Martin to spill the secret to the entire school. It’s his thing and he wants to tell his loved ones when he thinks it’s the perfect time. Because Simon knows that everyone will be okay with it. But he also knows that everything will change when he tells his friends and family, and he simply doesn’t want things to change.
What makes this film so special is that it stays away from the many clichés that this genre normalyl brings. Gay people are often portrayed in a very stereotypical way, but this film shows that homosexuality comes in many forms. There is another boy in Simon’s school that’s gay. He is very extravagant and very different from Simon. But they have one big thing in common. And this movie never mocks it. Everyone can be themselves, as long as you let yourself.
Director Greg Berlanti didn’t turn “Love, Simon” into a sentimental or melodramatic coming-out story. Simon is someone everyone can relate to, just as a lot of other characters in this film. It’s an honest and heartfelt story. Berlanti manages to bring Simon’s thoughts and experience to life. And also credits for Nick Robinson, who portrayed Simon in a very likeable, natural and strong way.
“Love, Simon” is a very important film, that takes on this topic very well. I loved this movie!

Rating: 4,5 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 77: Men, Women & Children

Director: Jason Reitman

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 119 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Rosemarie DeWitt, Adam Sandler, Jennifer Garner, Dean Norris, Judy Greer, Emma Thompson, Ansel Elgort, J.K. Simmons, Dennis Haysbert

Description: A group of high school teenagers and their parents attempt to navigate the many ways the Internet has changed their relationships, their communication, their self-image, and their love lives.

Review: Fifteen years after “American Beauty”, little has changed with the relational problems of seeking teens and their disillusioned parents in the suburbs. Only nowadays many of it goes through social media. At least for the characters in “Men, Women & Children”. Director Jason Reitman zooms in on a small group of American men, women and children and how they deal with the temptations of the internet.

Supported by the narration of an ironic Emma Thompson, an above average cast including a very modest Adam Sandler, the movie shows us a disturbing image of the effect of the new media. On sexuality in the modern society: boys grow up with internet porn, girls want to live up to a certain standard and parents that commit adultery. Reitman shows us how today’s teenage life integrates with the smartphone. It’s like real life doesn’t matter anymore, when the real problems happen in real life.

“Men, Women & Children” wants to tell a lot of stories in two hours’ time. For themes like gaming addiction and anorexia there is just not enough time. And because we follow multiple storylines, it’s hard to focus on all of them. Some characters are also in contrast too much. When Judy Greer’s characters publicly ‘sells’ her daughter by posting promiscuous pictures of her daughter online, so she can have a career in Hollywood, Jennifer Garner’s character is obsessed with the incoming and outgoing computer data of her daughter. The acting in the movie is good, it’s especially fun to see Adam Sandler in a more serious role again.

“Men, Women & Children” is not bad, because the concept is good. The movie is just a little to melodramatic, has too many storylines and lacks subtlety.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Movie Moments : "Juno"

Juno is a quirky and whip-sharp teenager who gets pregnant after having sex with Bleeker once. This story is so fun, I love this movie. One of those films that puts a smile on my face! Here are my favorite moments from “Juno”.

Moment # 1: Opening credits

One of the best opening credits of a movie ever. We see Juno walk on the street with a big can of orange juice.

Moment # 2: Pregnant

At the drug store Juno is taking a pregnancy test. And yes, she is knocked up!

Moment # 3: Telling Bleeker

The guy who she had sex with, only once, is Bleeker. He’s is also the one getting her pregnant. Juno decides to tell him in a very unconventional yet Juno way.

Moment # 4: Telling her parents

Juno has to tell her father and stepmom. She also is stating that she will give up the baby for adoption. Her dad is really surprised that she slept with Bleeker and her stepmom is right on hands on with the arrangements.

Moment # 5: Meeting Vanessa and Mark

In the Pennysaver Juno found the perfect adoption parents for her baby. Together with her dad she is about to meet Vanessa and Mark Loring. Soon Juno realizes that it’s Vanessa one wish to become a mother.

Moment # 6: Snap

Together with her best friend Leah and her stepmother, Juno is going for an ultra sound. The doctor helping her seems very prejudice and judges Juno. Juno’s stepmom doesn’t accept that and shuts her up. Snap!

Moment # 7: Vanessa talks to the baby

Juno and Leah are at the mall when the bump into Vanessa. She asks Juno if she can touch the belly after Juno feels the baby kick. When Vanessa feels, she doesn’t feel the baby and decides to talk to it.

Moment # 8: Mark leaves Vanessa

Juno visits Mark and he tells her some bad news. He wants to leave Vanessa, because her dream isn’t his. Juno is mad, because her plan goes to shit now.

Moment # 9: Orange Tic Tacs

After realizing Bleeker is the guy for her, Juno decides to make a giant romantic gesture. She fills Bleeker’s mailbox with orange Tic Tacs, his favorite.

Moment # 10: Juno and Bleeker kiss

After the Tic Tac gesture, Juno tells Bleeker she is in love with him and they kiss.

Moment # 11: The delivery

The time has come, Juno is about to deliver the baby. Stepmom Bren and best friend Leah support her and Juno delivers a boy. She doesn’t want to hold him.

Moment # 12: Vanessa is a mom

Finally Vanessa is a mom and she can’t wait to hold her son. Bren sees her and sees the baby is in good hands.

Moment # 13: The note

What we didn’t see was the note Juno wrote for Vanessa. She wrote: Vanessa, if you’re still in, I’m still on. Vanessa framed it for the baby’s room.

Moment # 14: Juno and Bleeker sing

Juno is back in shape an races of to Bleeker. Together they play guitar and sing a lovely song.

Favorite Moment: Moment # 12: Vanessa is a mom

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 129: Dallas Buyers Club

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 117 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner, Steve Zahn, Denis O’Hare, Dallas Roberts, Kevin Rankin, Steffie Grote, Griffin Dune, Jeanine Hill, Jane McNeill, Juliet Reeves, Michael O’Neill, James DuMont, J.D. Evermore, Heather Ashley Boyd, Douglas M. Griffin, Deneen Tyler

Description: In 1985 Dallas, electrician and hustler Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey) works around the system to help AIDS patients get the medication they need after he is himself diagnosed with the disease.

Review: Matthew McConaughey in a biopic about a Texan electrician with HIV; the end result is just as astounding as the concept. It took director Jean-Marc Valée 20 years before he could start filming. He did it in 25 days.

The American Ron Woodroof fought against a medical system in the eighties. The pharmaceutical industry had control and produced medication to fight the aids crisis. It turned out to be harmful medication. Woodroof, diagnosed with HIV, took matters into his own hands. He started an illegal ‘Buyers Club’, where people could get life extending medication.

In 1992 Craig Borten wrote the first script with the help from interviews. Woodroof died that same year. After twenty years Jean-Marc Vallée got a budget of 3 million and gave Matthew McConaughey the lead role. A daring choice? Indeed. The wrong choice? Definitely not. His famous charmes are gone and he lost around 40 pound fort his role. McConaughey, born in Texas, gives his all. It’s his attitude that make his role so moving. You get a lot of sympathy for his character.

The second performance that really impressed was by Jared Leto. Transformed into transsexual Rayon, he starved himself, waxed his legs, shaved his eyebrows and in thedays of shooting never stepped out of character.

The result is a beautiful montage, with pace. The ending could be a bit more powerful, because that never really sticks. “Dallas Buyers Club” is an energetic film, with a great cast. A definite must-see.

Rating: 4/ 5

Pic Spam: Jennifer Garner

Lovely Jennifer Garner. She's just such a sweet woman and I enjoy her in her films. And she is a natural beauty. Wasn't she just adorable in "13 Going On 30" and she made "Valentine's Day" worth watching. And she was great in "Juno" and "The Kingdom". Here are some pictures of Jennifer Garner.

Movie Tip #31 - Juno

Director: David Reitman

Starring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney

Description: A tale told over four seasons, starting in autumn when Juno (Ellen Page), a 16-year-old high-school junior in Minnesota, discovers she's pregnant after one event in a chair with her best friend, Bleeker (Michael Cera). In the waiting room of an abortion clinic, the quirky and whip-sharp Juno decides to give birth and to place the child with an adoptive couple. She finds one in the PennySaver personals, contacts them, tells her dad and step-mother, and carries on with school. The chosen parents (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner), upscale yuppies meet Juno, sign papers, and the year unfolds. Will Juno's plan work, can she improvise, and what about Bleeker?

Review: Everyone has gone to school with someone like Juno: that smart alec independent tomboy, cute, refreshing & fun to be around but not cool to date or be seen with. Ellen Page does a great job as Juno. I didn't know her before this movie and now I can't get around her any longer. The other actors kind of fade away, but I really liked Alisson Janney as Juno's stepmother. The story is pretty simple, but it's the simplicity that makes this movie work. A story doesn't have to be complicated to be good. I expected a lot from this film and it didn't disapoint me at all!