Juno
Juno is a comedy-drama directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay at the 80th Academy Awards in 2008, and had many nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress for Ellen Page. Juno's worldwide gross reached more than $223,734,771. Cat Power, The Kinks, Sonic Youth, and The Velvet Underground are just some of the few who had songs in the film. I didn't think I was going to like Juno. I thought it sounded rather trashy, but I was wrong. It was actually really funny, and I enjoyed it a lot. Although I have heard mixed reviews on the film, I still thought it was good and so did some most of my friends.
The Pregnancy
Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) is a junior in high school when she finds out that she is pregnant with one of her best guy friends, Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera). Juno tries to come up with a plan to get rid of the baby like an abortion, but then decides that finding a couple to ad
opt the baby was better. She finds a nice couple in the newspaper and plans to meet them. Mark and Vanessa Loring (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner), is a couple that unfortunately could never have children so when Juno's call came, they immediately jumped into the deal. As months pass Juno grows bigger and bigger, and she strikes up a friendship with Mark Loring. Not long before the baby is due, that Mark tells Juno that he plans on leaving Vanessa because he doesn't think he's ready to be a father. Vanessa soon finds out and a heated argument erupts, and Juno leaves crying. The day has finally come and Juno is rushed to the hospital. Paulie Bleeker finds out and hurries to Juno's side where they both decide not to see the baby. Vanessa comes to the hospital and adopts the baby boy as a single mother. Sometime later Juno and Paulie are seen playing guitar on the steps of Paulie's house.
The Cast
Juno's cast was hilarious. Each character made you laugh in someway or another. Ellen Page is great portraying her feisty character, Juno. J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney play Juno's parents, and Olivia Thirlby is her best friend. Michael Cera (Evan from Superbad) plays the father of Juno's child, while Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman play the adoptive parents.
tag: Juno, Jason Reitman, Diablo Cody, Academy Award, 80th Academy Awards, Best Original Screenplay, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Cat Power, The Kinks, Sonic Youth, The Velvet Underground, Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, J.K. Simmons, Allison Janney, Olivia Thirlby, Gross, Trailer
Sunday, April 27, 2008
A Born Movie
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Want To See Something Great
Have you ever watched a really great movie and said, "That's got to be one of the greatest movies ever!"? According to the Motion Picture Asso
ciation of America, a movie can only be listed in the greatest box-office hits if it grosses more than $100,000,000. There are 388 movies on that list, but here are the top 30. I have seen all the movies on this list at some point and I can remember that all of them were great!
Here they are! I got this list from imdb.com.
Which one do you think is best?
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Leatherheads
Leatherheads
Leatherheads is a romantic-comedy directed by George Clooney who actually stars in the film alongside Renee Zellweger and John Krasinski. The movies location was Duluth, Minnesota, but it was really filmed in South Carolina and North Carolina. Even though Clooney
tried his hardest in the film, it only grossed $13.5 million on its opening weekend. The main audience for the movie was estimated between viewers in their 30s and 40s. Although I did go see the movie, and I'm not that old. I thought the movie was rather boring at points. There were some very funny parts that I loved and can't wait to watch again, but then again there were parts in the film that bored me to death. Also some of my friends said the same thing as I did. Maybe if you are a big time football pl
ayer you might enjoy the movie more than I did.
The Game
Dodge Connelly (George Clooney) is a charming pro football player in 1925. After finding out that his football team, the Duluth Bulldogs, lose their sponsor, he is intent on finding someway to bring football back to Duluth. Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski), a young college football player/war hero crosses paths with Dodge, and he is immediately asked to join the team. Carter not only is a war hero, but he is a fabulous football player w
ith mad skills. Carter supposedly single handedly forced a group of German soldiers to surrender in WWI, but for Lexi Littleton (Renee Zellweger) this story is to good to be true. Lexi soon sets out to learn the truth about the so called war hero, Carter Rutherford. Throughout the time Lexi spends with the football team, she begins to fall for none other than Dodge Connelly. Dodge soon finds out that the once fun game of football he knew has changed to a game filled with rules and lies. Dodge has to find a way to keep his team going and get the girl.
The Players
Leatherheads's cast is hilarious. George Clooney and John Krasinski really make the film funny. Renee Zellweger lights up the screen in her always red clothes, and Jonathan Pryce plays CC, Carter's manager. Wayne Duvall (Cousin of Robert Duvall) plays the Duluth Bulldogs coach. There were many many other actors who played the parts of football players and war veterans.
tag: Leatherheads, George Clooney, John Krasinski, Renee Zellweger, Jonathan Pryce, Wayne Duvall, Robert Duvall, Gross, Trailer
Sunday, April 13, 2008
All Because Of A Lie
Atonement
Atonement is film adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel Atonement. It was directed by Joe Wright, and produced by Working Title Films. It was filmed in the summers of England and France. Atonement won an Oscar for Best Original Score at the 80th Academy Awards, and was nominated for six others, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, Best Writing, and Achievement in Costume. It also won Best Film of the Year, and the Production Design award at the 61st British Academy Film Awards. Atonement also opened the 2007 Vancouver International Film Festival and the 64th Venice International Film Festival, making Joe Wright the youngest director ever to open the event at age 35. The film grossed a total of more than $50,224,809. I liked the movie, but there were a lot of flashbacks, and it got rather confusing at times. I was never sure which year it was, or which flashback came first. My mama said she didn't really care for the film, but I guess you just have to be into these kind of movies to really understand a
nd keep up with everything.
The Story
In England in 1935, Briony Tallis thinks she witnesses the gardener, Robbie (James McAvoy), having sexual tensions with her sister Cecilia (Keira Knightley). She is confused and nervous about the scene she had just witnessed. In fact, Robbie and Cecilia are in love they just don't show it openly, and the scene Briony witnessed actually had nothing to do with love. Robbie accidentally broke Cecilia's vase, and the handle fell in the fountain. Cecilia just went in to get
it. Robbie later feels terrible about the vase so he writes a letter to Cecilia apologizing for his clumsiness, and a very explicit erotically charged version that he didn't intend on giving to Cecilia. He asks Briony to deliver the letter only to realize it was the wrong letter. Briony reads the letter and finds her theory that Robbie is a "sex maniac" is true, but she gives the letter to Cecilia without telling anyone what she read. During dinner that night, they discover that their twin cousins have run away so everyone goes out searching for them. While Briony searches she comes upon her cousin, Lola, being raped. She insists it was Robbie, and shows her parents and the police the letter he had given Cecilia. Robbie is then taken to prison and later to war. Years later, Briony realizes what a terrible mistake and lie she made. She tries to apologize to her sister, who has disowned her family, but never could find her. Many years have passed and Briony is now in her late seventies and dying. She has written a book titled Atonement, which is a story of the lie she told that ruined the lives of both her sister and Robbie. Briony tells that the end of her book is quite different from the reality story, but she wanted to give Robbie and Cecilia a happy ending, one that they never had.
The Cast
The casting of Atonement was great. Keira Knightley and James McAvoy were excellent. Saoirse Ronan (Briony at age 13), Romola Garai (Briony at age 18), and Vanessa Redgrave (Briony at age 77) all played Briony Tallis throughout the years as she aged. Benedict Cumberbatch played Paul Marshall, who was actually the man Briony saw raping her cousin, and Juno Temple played Lola.
tag: Atonement, Ian McEwan, Atonement, Joe Wright, Working Title Films, Oscar, Best Original Score, 80th Academy Awards, Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, Best Writing, Achievement in Costume, Best Film of the Year, 61st British Academy Film Awards, Vancouver International Film Festival, 64th Venice International Film Festival, James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai, Vanessa Redgrave, Benedict Cumberbatch, Juno Temple, gross, trailer
The Real Life Story
Dan In Real Life
Dan in Real Life is directed by Peter Hedges. It is a drama/comedy film starring Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche. The movie was filmed in Rhode Island in the cities of Newport, East Greenwich, Jamestown, Westerly, and Providence. Dan in Real Life has grossed more than $52,017,821 as of January 2008, and it actually has a pretty good soundtrack as well. For the most part, it was a good movie, and Steve Carell was hilarious. Although the previews made the movie sound like roll on the floor laughing, it wasn't like that at all. There were parts that made you laugh, but nothing serious. The movie was actually quite sad, but it had a good ending. It was more of a parent movie because my mama was crying throughout the whole film. She said that if you had children you would understand.
His Life Story
Dan Burns (Steve Carell), is a newspaper columnist and has raised three girls by himself since the death of his wife. Dan and his three girls pack up and take a trip to his parents house. While visiting the town Dan runs into a hottie at the bookstore named Marie (Juliette Binoche). Dan and Marie hit it off, but she soon has to run off to meet her boyfriend. When Dan returns to his parents house he tells them about a girl he m
et at the bookstore. His brother then introduces him to his girlfriend, who is none other than Marie from the bookstore. Throughout the whole visit, Dan and Marie pretend they don't have any attraction towards each other. When the family finds out that Dan and Marie have secretly been attracted to each other, his brother punches him for kisses his ex-girlfriend. Dan explains everything and is forgiven. He and Marie later get married and live happily ever after.
The Cast
No matter what movie Steve Carell is in, he is always funny. Dane Cook, John Mahony (Martin Crane from Frasier), and Dianne Wiest were some of Dan's family in the movie, and Marlene Lawston, Alison Pill, and Brittany Robertson were Dan's daughters. Emily Blunt played Ruthie "Pigface" Draper, a girl Dan goes out with, and Juliette Binoche plays Marie.
tag: Dan in Real Life, Peter Hedges, Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, dane Cook, John Mahony, Dianne Weist, Marlene Lawston, Alison Pill, Brittany Bovertson, Emily Blint, Martin Crane, Frasier, trailer
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Up A Creek, Without a Paddle
Without A Paddle
Without a Paddle is a 2004 film directed by Steven Brill. It is somewhat of a parody to other movies like Deliverance. The films music is directed by Christophe Beck, and also features songs by Bubba Sparxxx, Spiderbait, Snoop Dogg, Culture Club, and The Rolling Stones. Without a Paddle grossed a worldwide total of $58,156,435. I love this movie, and all my friends love this movie. It is hilarious! I am always laughing throughout the whole film.
The Treasure Hunt
The true treasure is not money or gold, but being alive. That is the life lesson Tom (Dax Shepard), Jerry (Matthew Lillard), and Dan (Seth Green) figure out on their adventurous journey to find the long lost treasure of DB Cooper. Ever since they were young boys, they dreamed of taking a grand adventure to find DB Cooper's treasure, and when the death of a friends gives them the opportunity, they take it. Once on the River, they meet some interesting characters from hairy ladies to crazy mountain men to maybe even DB himself. Along their journey they discover that their friendship has grown closer, and true friends are better than none.
The Cast
The cast of Without a Paddle is great! They all do a great job of making you laugh and enjoying the movie. Dax Shepard, Matthew Lillard, and Seth Green play the three young men who journey to find DB Cooper's treasure. Ethan Suplee and Abraham Benrubi play the crazy mountain men while Ray Baker is the disliked Sheriff Briggs. The tree hugger hairy ladies are played by Rachel Blanchard and Christina Moore. A special appearance is made by Burt Reynolds who plays a secret character that I will not reveal, but you can find out for yourself if you watch the movie.
tag: Without a Paddle, Steven Brill, Deliverance, Christophe Beck, Bubba Sparxxx, Spiderbait, Snoop Dogg, Culture Club, The Rolling Stones, Dax Shepard, Matthew Lillard, Seth Green, DB Cooper, Ethan Suplee, Abraham Benrubi, Ray Baker, Rachel Blanchard, Christina Moore, Burt Reynolds, gross, trailer
Monday, April 7, 2008
An Inspiring Story
Becoming A Movie
Becoming Jane is based on the great author, Jane Austen and her relationship with Tom Lefroy. Although the movie is not actually proven to be true, but it is based on real events that were written in the book Becoming Jane Austen by Jon Spence, who was the historical consultant during production. Many other biographers of Jane Austen have mentioned a relationship between Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy. Becoming Jane was actually shot in Dublin and rural Ireland, and not in Hampshire, England where Jane Austen was born. Becoming Jane grossed more than $37 million worldwide. It was directed by Julian Jarrold. I loved this movie! It was interesting to see Jane Austen's life unfold, and how her own love story inspired some of her greatest novels. It also had that romance that people love. If you want to see what happens in the end, then I guess you will just have to watch it.
The Story
Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) is a young woman who desires to live by her pen but being a woman she is unable to. Pressured by her mother to marry wealthy, Jane refuses and wants to marry for love. Mr. Wisley (Laurence Fox), the nephew of Lady Gresham (Maggie Smith), a rich aristocrat, approaches Jane for a proposal. Of course Jane is appalled that her parents would make her marry for money instead of love. As Jane contemplates the thought of marriage a young gentleman named Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy) enters her life. Tom's roguish behavior irks her, but she soon finds that she is falling for the non-aristocrat. Only one problem stands in the way of their love. If they elope they risk losing everything from family to fortune.
The Cast
Anne Hathaway plays the spunky writer, Jane Austen, and she does an amazing job. James McAvoy also does a great job. James Cromwell plays Jane's father, and Julie Walters plays her mother. Joe Anderson portrays Henry Austen, Jane's brother, and Maggie Smith and Laurence Fox portray the aristocrats.
tag: Becoming Jane, Jane Austen, Becoming Jane Austen, Julian Jarrold, Anne Hathaway, Laurence Fox, Maggie Smith, James McAvoy, James Cromwell, Julie Walters, Joe Anderson, Gross
