Wish I Was Here (2014)

2/5

Zach Braff's second film, Wish I Was Here, is about two brothers (Braff, Gad) who must deal with their father's illness and impending death. The movie has less to say than Garden State and is even more plain in how it says it. The characters are less interesting, the writing is less interesting, and even the music is less interesting. (The funniest part was Josh Gad trolling Miley Cyrus on Twitter, and I don't mean that as a compliment.) There's just no magic in this movie and no compelling reason to keep watching it. Even though the effort of sitting on a couch and staring at a screen is minimal, I found myself itching to do something else.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2870708/

Something Borrowed (2011)

3/5

Something Borrowed is a trite romantic comedy about a love triangle on the eve of a wedding (thus the stupid title). The main character is Rachel (Goodwin). Rachel has been best friends with Darcy (Hudson) since childhood. In law school, she met Dex (Egglesfield). And though they like each other, they are too shy to pursue the other's affection. Instead, Darcy's outgoing personality and Dex's openness leads to the two getting engaged.

As for the film itself, nearly every aspect is middle-of-the-road. It's predictably written (including its dumb ending) and appropriately funny. The technical aspects, from cinematography to editing, are completely unremarkable. However, there is one gem in the rough, and that gem is John Krasinski. He epitomizes humor. He is full of wit and sass, mixed in with genuine emotion and heart. I wish he were real and I wish he were my friend. For any Krasinski fan, Something Borrowed is a must-watch. As good as he is, though, he's not good enough to make up for the rest of this movie. If you're not interested in this movie already (and you're not interested in Krasinski), this movie will be an absolute waste of time.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491152/

Nine (2009)

4/5

I am a huge fan of Rob Marshall's Nine. It has been poopooed on by Negative Nancy film critics on each and every print and web publication, but I don't really care for their elitist perspectives, and neither should you. Nine is engaging, entertaining, and enlivening. It is full of energy and style and does not apologize for being in your face. I loved absolutely every minute of it. The movie is an adaptation of a Broadway musical based on a classic Italian film by Federico Fellini called 8 1/2. For any true lover of cinema, you are pretty much required to see 8 1/2, but that doesn't mean you're required to appreciate it or even like it. For my part, I both liked and appreciated it, and yet I find Rob Marshall's Nine to be a more accessible and more enjoyable version. No, it's not "better" than 8 1/2, but I feel more inclined to watch Nine with my friends (especially non-cinephiles) than 8 1/2.

The plot follows director Guido Contini (Day-Lewis) as his producer is pressuring him to make a new movie by creating a gigantic set, a poster, and a press conference even though Contini has no script and no concept. Stressed out, he runs away from Rome and tries hiding in a spa resort, asking his mistress (Cruz) to come while suggesting his wife (Cotillard) stay home. Eventually his producer finds him and brings the crew and set over so that he can continue his work. I'll leave the rest of the plot unstated and let you enjoy the rest of the movie yourself.

The acting was magnificent, as expected based on the Oscar-heavy cast. Marion Cotillard is a marvel, and I have become a complete fan of her acting after seeing this movie. She is soft and tender and fierce and sweet and everything you can imagine all wrapped up in an angelic visage and portrayed to perfection. I don't think I would have loved this movie nearly as much had she not been cast. Technically, the movie is more than competent. From his experience adapting musicals, I expected the costuming and makeup to be excellent--and it was. However, the cinematography, lighting, and editing impressed me because I never considered Marshall to be a particularly cinematic filmmaker. But here he has proved me wrong. Oh, and I forgot to mention that the songs blew me away. They're catchy and powerful and memorable.

However, the picture is not all rosy. I feel like some characters were miscast, specifically Daniel Day-Lewis. He does a fine job to the best of his ability, but he just doesn't fill out the character as I would have expected and would have liked. Javier Bardem (Marshall's original choice) would have been perfect, and would have given Cotillard a run for her money as the best part of the movie. Additionally, Nicole Kidman's role was relatively minor and the love between her character and Day-Lewis's didn't resonate as being believable. Still, even as it is, the movie is phenomenal. Watch it in theaters while you still can.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0875034/