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grodemann
Reviews
Trespass (2011)
Trespass Movie Review
Trespass is an exercise in subtlety, I know not everyone agrees about taking away your own meaning from a book or a movie. But when I watch a movie I can't help but to examine things closely and ask why? Why did she say that? Why was he watching that person?
That's why I got so much more than a run-of-the-mill home invasion story, I took away more of an examination of each characters' motives and psyche. I've talked with friends about what we think we would do if someone broke in to our house plenty of times. My roommate says he would shoot without hesitation and never feel bad about it, after all you are defending yourself and your home. But who really knows what you would do in that situation? Would you stand firm, or freak out when people bust into your home with guns?
This movie is about two separate groups in desperate situations, sure there's violence, masterful camera and lighting work, but I just love the way the movie puts every character in a situation that will expose them to the core. There's plenty of plot threads to keep you wondering what exactly you're witnessing until the end.
The Gift (2010)
What is the Gift?
I can't say that I've seen too many inspirational movies like Discover the Gift, at least not in their entirety. Like most movies that have a corresponding book, I usually prefer the book more than the movie and the same is true here. However the movie does a really good job of expressing the book in the time allotted, It's almost as if the book is being narrated by the family remembering the incidents that brought this book into print. All of this is set to rather soothing, almost hypnotic soundtrack that plays through the majority of the movie.
As for the content, I don't really want to spoil anything for you. There's a bit of a build up to finding out what the Gift is, and all the other original ideas Discover the Gift presents. In all honesty It's the wrapping the Gift comes in that impresses me the most. The Ideas are presented through the family experiences of Shajen Joy Aziz and her brother. These family experiences are really what makes this movie stand out from anything like it I've seen.
Midnight Movie (2008)
The Killer Cut/ Meta-Movie Killer
The word for this movie is Homage, and if you've seen Cop Out its not as overplayed as that. However there is a cool tip of the hat to the old films that didn't show the blood and left all of the killing to the imagination. It's a cool meta level of movie, since the movie is about watching a movie thats surrounded by a the stigma of a massacre in a psyche ward. If your fans of the gore though, there's something there for you, the movie just warms up as it goes on. The killings occur in both the movie they are watching and the movie you are watching.
It is neat to see the way the movie gets into that realm of "its OK its just a movie" as the characters aren't worried about their friends brutal murder at first, assuming that it's all just special effects and a joke he is playing on them. And for all the special effects fans the Killer Cut really takes the time to do those right.
Viva Riva! (2010)
Viva Riva Needs A Review
I haven't watched too many African films, and I don't mean to just lump them in with foreign films, but I love how this movie didn't try to dub in English or anything like that which would ruin the movie for me. The french dialect was cool to listen too, the subtitles made perfect sense and were easy to read. With that consideration handled so well the movie is free to shine on its own right. As I'm sure that others have said this movie does have intense violence and sexual scenes that may not be for your mother, but I don't want you to get the impression that the movie is all about debauchery and violence. There's also themes of strong family loyalty, and what leverage these loyalties can provide to an enterprising bad guy. Honestly the setting strikes close to home, with the gas shortage and skyrocketing prices, times are desperate and people feel pushed to live life to the fullest. Without this setting I don't think the movie could have take these characters to such an amazing place on screen.
Bride Flight (2008)
Masterful Past-to-Present-to-Past Transitions
When I first saw this movie, I didn't come in with any expectations other than what a title like "Bride Flight" elicits. Which in as many words probably equates to Love Story On or around a plane. Which is true enough, I was actually surprised how short the time they spent on the plane actually was. Early on the inclusion of some actual footage of the time period explains purposely the concept of the movie, a small exodus of brides-to-be to new Zealand in a race to break a previous flight record. This movie takes that premise and turns it into so much more, the characters are so fleshed out. They each have their own past and views about what they want for the future, a future that we get to see at the beginning of the movie and intermittently throughout. I don't want to ruin the movie by going into detail about all the plot twists and turns you'll just have to go see it, but you won't be disappointed when you realize not everything is as it seems in the past or present.
How to Live Forever (2009)
Great open ended movie about longevity and the meaning of life.
I have to say I love how this movie doesn't beat you over the head with an opinion one way or the other. We get to look into a world of cryogenics, active seniors, even hormone replacement therapies, but we aren't told what the best way is. Only that these options are out there. At first I was really expecting a even more longevity secrets, but the movie slowly transitions into a focus more on characters and quality of life.
While these ideas and technologies are interesting, the interviewees really make the movie. Seeing them live out fulfilling lives into their 90's and beyond was really inspiring. Honestly I think Mark Wexler's decision (leaving it up to us to decide what we think about longevity and really the meaning of life) was correct, I wouldn't have enjoyed an ending that promoted a certain ideal way of life.