Starring: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová
Director: John Carney
Country: Ireland
Genre: Musical
Everything works together in perfect harmony.
It’s hard to classify this as a musical when thinking of the genre as a whole. The term springs to mind images of corsets and top hats, so there’s an inclination to say this film is about music more than it is a musical. However, each song progresses the story and characters further down their path, and without them there would be no movie. Musicians Glen Hansard (The Frames) and Markéta Irglová head up this wonderful tale of, well, musicians who find each other by chance and inspire each others work. What is striking about this film is its candor. It’s almost like seeing the chunk of events that happen that inspire an album to be written. And the music is some of the most beautiful ever put on screen. Everything works together in perfect harmony to create a very special film.
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett
Director: David Fincher
Country: USA
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
He was born under unusual circumstances.
David Fincher has brought us some of the darkest tales over the last two decades, which is what makes this film quite of a surprise. While it is certainly dark, it’s more of an undercurrent to a touching and insightful story of a man’s life who was born old and ages backward. It has been compared to Forrest Gump numerous times, understandably, but the two films couldn’t be more different. It’s more than a documentation of an extraordinary character’s life. It’s a dissecting exploration on old age, youth, death, life, and everything that matters in between. Though it’s obvious why Brad Pitt was cast, he definitely pulls his weight and puts in a terrific performance, but this film is just further proof that Cate Blanchett is disgustingly talented.
Starring: Sally Hawkins, Eddie Marsan, Alexis Zegerman
Director: Mike Leigh
Country: UK
Genre: Dramedy
She’s kind of like a Disney character. Isn’t she? Yeah.
I feel weird saying it aloud, but this film challenged me in ways I hadn’t thought possible. It focuses on a character so hell-bent on being cheery that it begins to get a little grating. Immediately I was conflicted over having this feeling for such a well intentioned character, but slowly the layers started to peel back and a chasm of depth was revealed. My pessimistic way of thinking immediately started believing that I was being mislead and that this mostly-happy story could only end in death or some cataclysmic event, but I was pleasantly surprised by its outcome and the message it successfully delivered.
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson
Director: Joel Hopkins
Country: USA, UK
Genre: Romance, Comedy
It’s fun watching two grown adults acting like teenagers in love.
There’s something magical when a quaint formulaic film transcends its expectations and becomes unforgettable. Such is the case with Last Chance Harvey, a familiar love story between two down-and-out characters who have a chance encounter. What really elevates this film is its two stars, Hoffman and Thompson, as they relish in their roles, finding emotions and humor that only seasoned actors like them can. Their chemistry is entirely fun to watch. While the film takes a few stock twists, it really doesn’t matter, because after all, that’s what we’re there to see. Last Chance Harvey is a uplifting and wonderful film that helps fill the void of mid-life romance films.
Starring: Seung-yeon Lee, Hyun-kyoon Lee
Director: Ki-duk Kim
Country: South Korea
Genre: Foreign, Romance
Chaplin. Keaton. Ki-duk Kim?
When a film of any country’s origin embraces the idea of images being a universal language, I tend to get a bit giddy, (don’t get me going on Chaplin films…) 3-Iron is so in touch with the idea that a story can be told without verbal language and still convey a wholly touching story, probably even better than most other films. To summarize it would take more words than I have room for here, but the first half of the film plays out a lot like Wall-E in two characters falling in love through excellently developed tender moments that never fall under schlocky, but remain in the cute realm that gives you butterflies. The second half of the film takes an unforeseen turn, but always stays true to the story being told. 3-Iron is absolutely one to be seen by any romance enthusiast.
Starring: Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl
Director: Judd Apatow
Country: USA
Genre: Comedy
It’s all fun and games until someone pops a baby out.
After his 2004 gem The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Judd sharpened his hooks to sink into a more mature story with immature characters. Apatow and gang know how to craft a crude yet insightful coming of age comedy that can glide between its main character tripping on mushrooms to the fear that comes from having a child. Few films that attempt their hand at both comedic and dramatic can boast success, but then there definitely aren’t enough that give it their all. Knocked Up does, and there’s no question whether or not it works because it all just feels so natural. Most of the funniest comedies, and even some of the most dramatic films could find here a lesson in genuineness.
Starring: Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche
Director: Peter Hedges
Country: USA
Genre: Comedy
“Plan to be surprised.”
This is one of those small films that doesn’t necessarily have any specifically life-changing moments, but as a whole it develops something very unique. It’s kind of vague if it’s the tone of the film, or just some indeterminate warm-fuzzy feeling that comes from drinking cocoa by the fire, but whatever it is, Dan In Real Life has it in spades. We follow Dan, a widower father, and his three daughters on a weekend with their large family that results in a chance encounter with the woman of his dreams… his brother’s girlfriend. Dan isn’t without its faults. At times it resembles one of those god-awful Olive Garden Commercials (why is everything always so damn funny?!) but somehow despite that it manages to create a very realistic family and a film that I continue to return to over and over.
2007 Films | this guy over here January 30, 2010 | 
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