Inception (2010)

5/5

Christopher Nolan's Inception is a near-perfect film. It follows a thief named Cobb (DiCaprio) and his team of extractors (Gordon-Levitt, Hardy, Rao, Page) as they invade people's dreams and steal their secrets. They are hired to carry out a new kind of job called inception: implant an idea in someone else's head through their dreams. In order to do this and convince the dreamer that it is their own idea, they must go three levels deep--a dream within a dream within a dream. With each level removed from reality, time slows down exponentially, such that entire lives can be lived within mere seconds. Imagine the life you're living now; imagine dying 80 years after being born and then waking up to find yourself still young. And that is the idea from which this entire movie stems, from which it will no doubt be compared to the likes of The Matrix. But what Inception has over The Matrix is that we all dream, and we all know what it's like to wake up from a dream. We can imagine that what we're living in now is just a dream, and maybe--just maybe--we can wake up and get a second chance at life.

The cinematography in this film is crisp and direct. Except for the impressive and awe-inspiring gravity-defying action scenes in the hotel, it's merely adequate. It's not particularly cumbersome nor is it particularly artistic, but it gets the job done. The acting feels much the same. It is written well enough to make the characters distinct and separate, but they never feel like more than just archetypes. Even DiCaprio's character, by far the most complex and mature, feels like a rehashing of the tormented soul he played in Shutter Island. And Marion Cotillard, whose acting I fell in love with in Nine, plays a representation of an idea instead of a real human being. But these are the weakest aspects of the movie.

Inception's strengths are its storytelling, directing, and editing. The story, as I've described above, is what will win this movie its fans and its cult following. The plot, compelling as it is, exists solely to propel the idea that the world we think is real may just be a dream. And as Cobb warns us in the film, an idea is the most dangerous, insidious, persistent threat to our health and wellbeing that we can imagine. The story is combined with precise editing to create an airtight film that never lets you catch your breath or blink your eyes. It is nonstop intellectual and visceral action from beginning to end, with stunning efficiency and economy. And Nolan's directing puts this movie together into an unforgettable whole, with nary a missing piece or unseen error. This is a movie that was not thrown together in a day; it took years of planning and execution and is all the better for it. No, it's not a perfect movie and it may not be for everybody, but it's one of the most riveting, revolutionary movies I've seen come out of Hollywood in a long, long time. I suggest you watch it as soon as possible, before all the water cooler chatter about it ruins the film for you.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/

Despicable Me (2010)

4.9/5

Despicable Me is an absolutely delightful film no matter how you slice it. The plot follows Gru (Carell), whose only goal in life is to become the greatest supervillain in the world. When the Great Pyramid of Giza is stolen by Vector (Segel), he steals Gru's media limelight and becomes Gru's new archenemy. So Gru decides to adopt three little orphans and use them in his master plot to steal the moon and embarrass Vector at the same time.

This movie is the first feature film for the new Illumination Animation studio and, if they keep making movies of this quality, their success is guaranteed. The directing is pitch-perfect. It deftly blends comedy with excitement, family appeal with evil intentions. The feel is a combination of Tim Burton and Pixar; the union manifests itself as a wholly realized alternate reality, but cutesy instead of scary. I absolutely adore how they play with their self-imposed rules to enthrall and surprise you (e.g., cracking and shaking up the minion to generate light). The comic timing and the editing are spectacular, resulting in an experience that is enjoyable without a single wasted second or shot. The voice-acting was impeccable. Even though they used big names, they were so well disguised that you felt as if you saw and hear each character, not the actor (everyone except Jack McBrayer, that is).

And it is not just for kids either. It has a lot of mature thematic content (and references to movies like The Godfather). It subtly delves into the reasons people act the way they do and dream the things they dream. But the heart of the movie is a compelling and uplifting story about family. Despite everything else this movie does right (and it does nearly everything right), what will imprint this movie in the memories of its viewers is its heartfelt storytelling. What more can you ask in a movie than to come out of the theater feeling rejuvenated and inspired?

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1323594/

Mr. And Mrs. Smith (2005)

3/5

Mr. And Mrs. Smith is an entertaining action flick that began the Hollywood couple known as Brangelina. Looking over the IMDb trivia, it seems as if five or six different actresses were considered before Jolie; it's hard to imagine our celebrity world if they had never met. But enough asides, it's time to discuss the movie. The plot follows married couple John (Pitt) and Jane (Jolie) Smith. They seem like a normal suburban couple with dysfunctional problems after the initial lust has faded. Except they're also assassins, and their alternate lifestyles may be adding undue strain on their marriage by constantly keeping secrets from each other. On their latest job, they are both tasked to kill the other; can they follow through or is their love stronger than that? The answer may surprise you (but probably won't, because the movie is very predictable).

The plot in this movie is barebones. When it does attempt to explain itself, it fails pretty spectacularly. To put it simply, no part of this movie makes any sense whatsoever. The dialogue is amazing though. It is sharp, quick, and efficient. It says so much with so few words. It relies on the actors' chemistry and body language to tell their history and their behavior. The directing allows the actors space to act without forcing rapid-fire dialog or editing. And it's funny. As an action movie, Mr. And Mrs. Smith is somewhat middle of the line. I didn't find it particularly compelling, or particularly nauseating, so that's a good sign. All in all, it's a fairly average action flick that has some strong elements along with some weak elements. If the trailers looked interesting to you, I'm sure you'll enjoy checking it out.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0356910/

She's Out Of My League (2010)

4/5

She's Out Of My League is a male-oriented romantic comedy about an average-looking guy named Kirk (Baruchel) who gets asked out by a "hard 10" named Molly (Eve). The plot is fairly simplistic and follows the basic formula of all romantic comedies: guy meets girl, guy and girl disagree about something that is usually fixed in a day, guy and girl make up and live happily ever after. But throughout the movie we get the sense that something is amiss; why is a 10 hitting on a 5? The answer is pretty obvious and fairly benign, so don't go into the movie expecting some surprise ending where all secrets are revealed. In fact, the plot itself is the least interesting part about this movie. The most interesting part about this movie, on the other hand, is something you'll find out in the next paragraph.

As in all good movies, the characters are the heart of the film. They sparkle with familiarity and honesty; they are unique without feeling written. They are acted well, which helps elevate them off the printed page. The jokes are strong as well, especially when emotions or tensions bubble up and eliminate their inhibitions. We see what really makes these people tick and what fools they make of themselves when they lose their cool. And when they do, it's pretty cool to find out that there are real human beings beneath the fictional characters. Taken as a whole, She's Out Of My League isn't the most original movie, but cliches are repeated for a reason. They work. And so they do in this movie as well, which I highly recommend for a good laugh.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0815236/

Vacancy (2007)

4/5

Vacancy is a terrifying horror thriller that threatens two characters we quickly come to care about and builds tension in measured, metered doses. The plot follows David (Wilson) and Amy (Beckinsale) as a couple whose marriage is on the verge of dissolution. Their car breaks down and they're forced to stop at a cheap motel. The desk clerk (Whaley) offers them the less-than-romantic honeymoon suite at a discount. Cockroaches line the bathroom walls, brown water shoots out of the faucet, and cable doesn't work. Luckily, there are a few VHS tapes they can watch. To their horror, they quickly discover that they're watching snuff films of murders that take place in that very motel. And David and Amy are going to be the next victims.

Vacancy is a calculated movie that paces itself expertly starting from the intro credit sequence, where they use typography and music in the same vein as Hitchcock to get your heart racing, to the final shot of the film. Small camera moves, such as lingering on an empty room, add immensely to the anxiety. The cinematography is pristine and crisp, evoking the harsh lighting of film noir for its own nefarious purposes. The director makes you feel claustrophobic and trapped for just the right amount of time before letting you breathe. And when he does, he lets you catch your breath just long enough before you unconsciously hold it in again. This movie is a taut thriller that should serve as an example of how to build suspense. It's not the most original movie, and there are a few scenes that work only if you suspend your disbelief, but this movie had me scared from beginning to end. I highly recommend it.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452702/

The Karate Kid (2010)

3/5

The 2010 version of The Karate Kid is an entertaining film with its fair share of faults. I have not seen the original Karate Kid, but I hear that this updated remake is not as good. As to the plot, here goes: young Dre (Smith) and his mother (Henson) move to China for her job. Dre doesn't know the language, but quickly makes friends. A young Chinese violinist takes an interest in him and he does likewise. But Cheng, a young bully who's interested in the violinist for himself, doesn't think that they should associate with each other. He beats up poor Dre, time and time again, until Dre promises to fight him one-on-one in a local kung fu tournament. Dre befriends his apartment's maintenance man Mr. Han (Chan), who begins to train him in the art of kung fu.

I found the movie to be overly dramatic and sensationalized. There was definitely way too much slow-motion. It seemed as if this was the most important and formative year of Dre's entire life (which may be the case, but it doesn't ring true for people going through real struggles who are above the age of 12). The action was well-choreographed and engaging for the most part, but it quickly turned into senselessly cruel brutality that was somewhat difficult to watch. Also, I thought some of the writing and/or delivery of dialogue just didn't feel right (way too childish within the dramatic atmosphere). However, despite being completely predictable, the movie had some funny, exciting, and uplifting parts. It's not the best movie in the world, but it does its job to entertain you for 2 hours. It will probably satisfy kids more than adults, but I don't regret watching this movie by any means.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1155076/

Bandslam (2009)

4/5

Bandslam is surprising from beginning to end, which I will attribute to terrible marketing. I--and I think most people who saw the movie--was expecting some sort of cheesy Disney High School Musical battle of the bands movie made for tweens. What I got was a mature coming-of-age story about Will Burton (Connell) and Charlotte Banks (Michalka) that used music as a backdrop and texture for the whole film. The characters are written with intelligence and complexity and portrayed with intimacy and compassion.

We start the movie assuming that Will is a quirky emo high schooler who's sensitive to bullying and obsessed with David Bowie. But as the movie progresses, we find that all of our assumptions are wrong. He is a rare breed of indie rock lover who truly understands music and is able to articulate his appreciation or distaste. Charlotte Banks is the former singer of their high school's popular band Glory Dogs. She befriends Will, but we cannot help but feel she is manipulating the situation for her own ulterior motives. Again we are proven wrong in a very surprising way. It might feel as if the movie is trying to trick you, but it's not. It presents these characters as they are and lets our own preconceived notions fill in the gaps with stereotypes.

The music is excellent. It is a perfect blend of catchy beats and meaningful lyrics. The directing is exceptional. It takes a solid script and adds emotional overtones through smart editing and cinematography choices. It mixes all the elements of a film together effortlessly to create a rich and full experience. I was wholly enveloped in their world: my heart would sink to the floor or be lifted up with each revelation. When I listen to the songs from the movie, they take on more meaning and emotion than most songs because of the events in the movie I associate with them. But the movie is not without its faults. It sometimes felt written and way too tidy for real life. Some parts seemed overwhelmingly improbable. On the whole, however, this movie was an unexpected treasure. I highly recommend it.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0976222/

It's Complicated (2009)

3/5

It's Complicated is a benign piece of entertainment that follows divorced couple Jane (Streep) and Jake (Baldwin) Adler. Jake cheated on Jane 10 years ago with the much-younger Agness (Bell) and ended up marrying her; he is now cheating on his current wife Agness with his ex-wife Jane. Jane isn't convinced that it will work out again with Jake, even if he leaves Agness, and finds a budding romance in her new architect Adam (Martin). She tries balancing her two men, but finds it far too complicated and decides that she must pick one. Who will she pick?

The writing and acting worked well together, delivering impeccable comic timing. Unfortunately, the movie as a whole isn't as funny as I know the writer and actors to be capable of, nor is it as meaningful or interesting. And that is the worst part about the movie for me: I couldn't really understand what the characters were going through. I mean, I could imagine what they were going through, but the movie presented all of its content in such a comical and flamboyant manner that I can't say I'm anywhere closer to understanding divorce than before I saw this movie. I'm not saying the movie has an obligation to do this, and in fact the movie works as a simple 2 hour escape, but I was just hoping that it would be closer to Meyers's previous The Holiday. The movie as a whole turned out rather bland for me (maybe I was just expecting too much), but it will certainly suffice for someone looking for a romantic comedy with old people making out (and undressing).

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1230414/