The Help (2011)

4/5

The Help is a surprisingly affecting tale of race relations in Jackson, Mississippi during the civil rights movement. It is the story of "the help," black women who work as nannies and maids to rich white Southern belles, as told by budding author Skeeter (Stone). She asks Aibileen (Davis) and Minny (Spencer) to tell her what it's really like to work as the help, despite the significant danger publishing such an account would pose to everyone who contributes. Aibileen describes what it's like working for Elizabeth (O'Reilly), an incompetent young mother who plans to have another daughter because the daughter she already has is unattractive. Minny describes being fired by Hilly (Howard), the quietly racist, fervently superior, self-appointed ringleader of the young women in town, for using the indoor toilet during a tornado instead of the outhouse.

The story is predictably emotional at times, treading exquisitely close to melodrama, while mixing in equal parts entertainment and humor. This movie is blessed to have a competent director and eagle-eyed editor, who understand the heart of the story and let it shine through any fluff. The script is sensational, brought to life by superb acting. Viola Davis does a phenomenal job; her expressive face and subtle movements (a shift in body weight, a hesitance in her response) are able to convey incredibly complex feelings. Bryce Dallas Howard gives a riveting performance that combines charm and slime to create a wholly unlikeable young matriarch. But the movie is about more than racism and more than events in the past: it is about parenting, about unexpected relationships, and about the courage and sacrifice required to do the right thing. This is a gripping film from beginning to end and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454029/

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/

Cloverfield (2008)

4/5

Cloverfield, produced by the seemingly unstoppable JJ Abrams, is a remarkably thrilling and engaging monster/disaster movie. It kept me on the edge of my seat nearly the entire time. The brilliant marketing campaign (mysterious trailer, viral websites, etc.) created a hype that it was actually able to meet. And I'm sure it will become a cult classic very quickly. I was a bit skeptical, although intrigued, when I first heard that it was to be entirely hand-held POV, but it performed past my expectations. Coming to the movie as a filmmaker, I know how unrealistic much of the POV explanations were. Many shots wouldn't have been edited, wouldn't have been as steady, and wouldn't have even existed (the camera probably would have been left behind a number of times). Still, these sacrifices were made for the sake of the audience and the story, and it was never so bad that I was unable to suspend my disbelief. (Cleaning the blood off the camera lens with his shirt was a bit laughable though.)

The special effects were absolutely phenomenal. I have no idea how they did what they did, but they deserve some serious congratulations. Sound design, editing, and cinematography were all above average. The acting was believable and I felt like I got to know the characters well. The cameraman was a bit too glib given the situation, but his humor went much appreciated by me. The backstories of all the characters, including the monster, were surprisingly fleshed out, considering the relatively simple storyline and short runtime. Beyond these technical aspects is the mood, the atmosphere, the experience of watching it. And I must say, it was exhilarating. There were scenes of pulse-pounding tension (the spider attack) and tender emotions (the phone call with his mother). The movie did not try to explain everything, but it explained enough to satisfy you while simultaneously keeping you curious. There were flaws--the biggest being a rather weak ending--but none that can't be ignored. And none that will ruin the movie. I highly recommend it. JJ Abrams knows how to give the people what they want.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1060277/