The Notebook (2004)

3/5

Before I start this review, I should note that there were certain distractions that took my attention away from the movie for several minutes at a time. Thus, it may be an unfair assessment. However, I remain confident in my rating within plus or minus 0.5 stars, which I don't use anyway. With that in mind, let us begin with the review.

The Notebook is a rather simple boy meets girl tearjerker love story. The title refers to a notebook detailing how the couple met and fell in love. Now a grandfather, the man reads it to his Alzheimer-stricken wife to help her get back the memories the disease stole from her. It's a tender premise, at risk of being filled with saccharine sentimentality and overwrought melodrama. For the most part, it manages to avoid the sappiness associated with its cliched and tired story, and instead infuses it with just the right amount of emotion. This is in large part due to the acting by the two leads (Gosling and McAdams), whose performances allow us to feel empathy instead of resentment for the cocky boy and rich girl who find true love in each other. As far as the story and acting goes, this is about as good a film as any other romance.

Technically, the film is about the same as your typical romantic fare. The painterly compositions could be quite stunning, but the overuse of slo-mo was a bit excessive. The simple editing served the story well, with some efficiently-cut scenes and some unnecessary ones. The dialogue, what I heard of it, wasn't particularly poetic or cheesy. All in all, this was a fairly average romance with a few good qualities and a few bad qualities. If it seems like this is your type of movie, you'll probably enjoy it. But it won't change anybody's mind about the genre.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332280/

The Ice Storm (1997)

4/5

I didn't know much about Ang Lee's The Ice Storm when I saw it, so it took me a while to internalize the time and place. But understanding the setting--70's suburbia in the midst of their own version of a sexual revolution--is integral to fully appreciating the film. The story looks at both the parents and children of a dysfunctional family, and each generation's exploration of freedom in sexuality and inebriation, both different and identical. It is a world so very far from ours, and at the same time so near, that we are able to laugh at the forgotten customs and traditions while simultaneously picking up on the tragic nature of their current expressions.

The Ice Storm examines the paradox of family: how we can distance those we grow closest to, how we can hate those we love most, and how we require security but want excitement. There is a sense of impending doom, a foreboding heaviness, that keeps you breathless in anticipation for the full running time. It is a testament to Lee's abilities that he can insert moments of laughter without cutting the tension. We always know that something will happen to these people, these people so desperate for release and escape. It is the inevitable outcome of human nature.

Technically, the movie worked well. The editing especially was stellar, as it interwove multiple stories with such immaculate precision that we not only remember every complex character, but we also understand their motivations, their wants and fears. The acting brought to life already strong writing. Still, a lot of the movie was just flat-out weird and unconvincing. As in other films by Lee, the movie was peppered with unnatural angles, discontinuous blocking, and bizarre compositions. Much of the cinematography seemed drab and underwhelming, but maybe that is the point? Regardless of any minor flaws, this film goes highly recommended by me.

IMDb link: http://imdb.com/title/tt0119349/

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

4/5

Paul Greengrass's The Bourne Ultimatum is riveting. Not only does it have some of the most tense action scenes put to film, but it has them one after another with almost no lag time. The editing is simply stunning. Not a single wasted frame. While I despised the over-the-top shakiness in the second movie, this movie's less obtrusive, more muted camerawork was actually quite effective at making it realistic and thrilling. Probably because you could still tell what was going on. What made this movie stand out from your typical action fare was its political and thematic underpinnings. While it focuses most obviously on the dichotomy between following orders and making your own decisions, it also delves into modern American politics unapologetically. My favorite line in the movie was by Strathairn: "Don't second-guess an operation from an armchair."

I didn't really like the intro at all. It did nothing to serve the story and its lack of any explanation simply made its inclusion unnecessary. Additionally, some of my enjoyment was slightly marred by the terrible smile by Julia Stiles in the next to final frames. And for some reason Jason Bourne is superhumanly strong and incapable of being injured. But if you like action, you need to see this movie. Now. It truly is the best action movie of the year.

IMDb link: http://imdb.com/title/tt0440963/