Legion
Ok, sometimes biblical action movies can rock. Constantine, for all of its faults, is a flick I find vastly enjoyable. This may come down to my love for Keanu's terrible acting (say what you want, but I think that Point Break pretty much embodies the 90s). Of course, the flip side includes films like The Reaping. Yeah, bet you wish I hadn't just brought that bad memory up. Legion isn't quite as bad as The Reaping, but it's still not by any means a great film. Katie hated it. I think I feel a little less hatred towards it since I watched Gamer first (I'll get to that in a minute). There are a few decent action moments. There is a bit with an improvised flame thrower that may show up in next year's Twigmans. Still, it's a renter.
Gamer
I only just saw this one since when it came out I was living in the UK and movies cost roughly 20 US dollars and I could not afford that nonsense. I was having a hard enough time paying for food. So finally, I see it. Um, yeah. Ouch. This video clip pretty much says all that you can say about this film.
Yeah. That's the level of bad we're talking about. Gerard Butler, you are too good looking to keep making these awful movies. Between this and The Ugly Truth, I hate to say it, but you're starting to make me hate you.
An Education
I made sure to catch this one since it's up for Best Picture. I was really excited to see this one. I love Nick Horby's work, although Katie loves him more than I do. While this is a very nicely put together film and definitely something I would recommend, I doubt it will win best picture. Regardless, this is a nice little coming of age story with some excellent acting that I highly recommend.
The Blind Side
To be honest, I had no desire whatsoever to see this film. Really, I didn't. I didn't care about the hype. I'm burned out of the whole inspirational sports movie thing. This could have something to do with the fact that I have a running count of seeing Remember the Titans twenty-five times in my life (it was forced; there are some films I watch obsessively, but not this one). I had a similar reaction to all Disney films involving animals as central characters after my sister went through a Lion King 2 phase and watched it, I'm not kidding you, for nonstop three days straight until my mother pulled an intervention on her six-year-old. Finding Nemo restored my faith in animals. The Blind Side did not restore my faith in sports movies.
Granted, it's a nicely put together film that does inspire you to be a better person. I have a few issues with it since I'm from East Tennessee and hence view Memphis as the enemy (Tennessee interstate relations make an interesting sociological study). But honestly, this film is nowhere nearly good enough to merit a Best Picture nomination. As for Sandra Bullock's hyped performance, she'd good, I'll give her that, but I don't for a second think that her performance was the best of the year.
The Boondock Saints 2
Ok, for the record, I LOVE The Boondock Saints. Freaking love it. It's a movie I watch over and over again and laugh every time. I was thrilled at the prospect of a sequel. But then I saw it. Fail. I hate the character Romeo. Hate him. He irritates me to no end. The movie would have been about a billion times better if he wasn't in this. Also, I like Julie Benz, but I feel like they wasted her in this movie. First of all, i think she looks kind of crap, which is really hard to do with someone that attractive. Also, her southern accent seems supper gimmicky and distracts from every scene she's in. She's underused and underdeveloped. Basically, this movie should have been better than it is. It's watch-able I guess, but it's not a movie I'd buy and watch over and over like the first one.
Whip It!
This is another film I missed while living across the pond. For the record, I kind of adored it. I didn't expect to, since I kept hearing about how "Juno" it was. It isn't. It's nothing like Juno, a film which, despite what people tell me, I've never managed to sit through. I know, I know - I'm inhuman since I can't make myself like Juno. Anyways, Whip It! Like I said, I kind of adore this film. I think it's a delightful coming of age flick with some swell acting and some snappy lines. It's a film I can relate to pretty heavily. A teenage girl living in the middle of boring nowhere feels like her mother pressures her into being someone she's not sure she wants to be. One day she lucks out and finds something that she unexpectedly loves. This thing changes her life. And of course, her mother doesn't get it. Every teenage girl has this experience to some degree. I'm still stuck in this experience in many ways. Perhaps this is why I love this film, but you can't fault it for much. The script, acting, and directing are all solid. Go out and rent this if you don't believe me.
That's all for now!
~Lauren
