Hey guys, so sorry about not updating this blog for a long time. I have been busy moving to a new state and preparing for a new job! But now that I'm settled in, it's time to review a few movies I saw recently.
The Dark Knight Rises
For everyone living under a rock, TDKR is the third film in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. The final film finds Gotham nearly a decade after the Joker wrecked havoc on the city and the vigilante known as "the Batman" killed beloved public official Harvey Dent (or so the people of Gotham believed).
Now a new villain, the terrifying Bane, is causing chaos in Gotham in the form of violent civil unrest (imagine if the Occupy movement was run by an violent fascist). Bruce Wayne, who has been avoiding Gotham for years, must suit up and return to save the day, while also fielding the affections of two lovely women, Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) and Miranda Tate (Marion Cotillard).
As with Nolan's other Batman movies, TDKR is intense, violent, and more than a little nihilistic. It has some truly intense scenes of destruction (when Bane starts setting off bombs all over Gotham) and fights (the opening scene where Bane takes over a plane in mid-air is awesome).
However, TDKR lacks something that The Dark Knight had. First, I didn't find Bane as compelling as the Joker. Part of this was due to the fact that you can't really tell what's going on behind that scary gas-mask contraption on his face. While Tom Hardy does the best with what he has to work with, his performance doesn't live up to Heath Ledger's insane and oddly sympathetic turn as the tormented Joker.
Also, as someone not familiar with the Batman comics, I was easily able to follow the plot and understand the motivations in The Dark Knight whereas I was often at a loss for what drove the villain(s) in TDKR. So many people seem to want to destroy an entire city because of its "corruption" (where the main corruption comes in the form of those who seek to destroy it) or for revenge. However, I did like the sequences that took place in the South American (or Middle Eastern?) prison.
Despite these quibbles, TDKR is a very good and entertaining movie. Once again, Nolan shows his flair for creating slick, fanciful, and exciting worlds, as well as writing complicated plots that leave the audience with much to debate and discuss.
4 out of 5 stars
***
Turn Me On, Dammit!
This little coming-of-age gem from Norway has something many American teen movies lack: female sexuality without the side helping of exploitation. The film opens with 15-year-old Alma masturbating while listening to her favorite phone sex operator, Stig, describe a juicy scenario to her. Like most teens her age, she lives with her mom and enjoys the rare moment of lack of supervision by indulging in a common pastime (masturbation...not talking to a phone sex operator).
Alma is a normal teenager in her podunk little town in Norway, but she soon finds herself an outcast after her crush, Artur, randomly pokes her with his penis at a youth group event. Alma tells her jealous, mean girl friend, Ingrid, who accuses her of lying. Artur of course denies it, and Alma earns the nickname "Dick Alma". The teasing becomes so bad, that Alma looks for a way out--whether by retreating into her fantasy life, or by literally running away.
The best thing about this movie is how real it is. Alma, Ingrid, and the other teens look and act like real teenagers. They're mean, petty, and horny, but also intelligent and capable of empathy and kindness. The film doesn't blow their small dramas out of proportion (for example, Alma doesn't end up pregnant or raped for her sin of having sexual feelings). Alma has a generally good relationship with her single mother, who is embarrassed and taken aback by Alma's interest in phone sex and porno mags, but she never flips out on her daughter. I can't imagine what this movie would look like if it were made by Americans. Probably pretty dumb.
4 out of 5 stars
***
The Campaign
Speaking of dumb, the latest Will Ferrell comedy sadly has more idiocy than laughs. The movie concerns North Carolina politician Cam Brady (Ferrell), a slick democratic incumbent, who loses popularity after he accidentally leaves a ridiculous and vulgar message intended for his mistress on the answering machine of a conservative local family. Republican bigwigs in DC see the opportunity to run a gullible Yes Man candidate against Brady in the hopes that if this man wins the election, he will blindly pass any legislation they want. Their pick for the Republican candidate? Effeminate, pug-loving Marty Huggins (Zach Galifanakis, who is the best thing about this movie). Huggins is the naive son of Southern Good Ol' Boy Raymond Huggins, who is so old-fashioned, he makes his Asian maid talk like a black Mammy to remind him of times gone by (the joke gets old before it even starts).
Although there are some pretty good jokes and great cameos, The Campaign offers very little you haven't seen a million times before. The writers seem to value penis jokes more than actually coming up with original ideas. It's your typical not great, but not awful comedy.
3 out of 5 stars
***
Ruby Sparks
Ruby Sparks, written by and starring Zoe Kazan, turns the Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope on its head. Ruby Sparks is the name of a character created by young writer Calvin (Paul Dano, great as always). Ten years ago, Calvin wrote a Salinger-esque novel that was a huge critical and financial success. Hailed a genius, he has been living off the royalties since and has failed to come up with his next great novel. He has also failed at love, preferring to avoid women and keep to himself, opening up emotionally only to his therapist (Elliot Gould).
Calvin longs so hard for a perfect female mate, that he begins to write about a girl named Ruby who grew up in Dayon, Ohio. Ruby roller skates to work and doesn't own a computer. Ruby wears red dresses and purple tights. Ruby loves giving blow jobs and can cook French cuisine. In other words, Ruby is a geeky male fantasy. The weird thing is...this fantasy comes to life.One day, Calvin wakes up to find Ruby in his kitchen. At first, he thinks he's going crazy. But when other people see Ruby too, Calvin realizes that he has literally written Ruby into reality. And not only has he created her, he can change her at will, simply by writing whatever changes he would like. The movie takes a dark turn when Ruby begins to do things Calvin doesn't like, such as bond with his mom and stepdad, and flirt with other men. In the end, Calvin has to decide whether he will keep a perfect woman as a prisoner, or let Ruby go off to become a "real girl".
In spite of a sticky-sweet ending that didn't mesh well with the rest of the movie, I loved Ruby Sparks. I thought the idea behind it was fun and interesting, without being heavy-handed. The acting was great--Paul Dano is perfect as the well-meaning but insecure Calvin, and his real life lady love Zoe Kazan is wonderful as the cute, moody Ruby. The supporting roles, including Antonio Banderas as Calvin's hippie stepdad, are equally well cast. If you hate the whole Manic Pixie Dream Girl phenomenon, I'd recommend giving Ruby Sparks a try. It suggests that even "kooky" femininity is still kept under lock and key by men who want a partner who was placed on this earth for their pleasure alone.
4.5 out of 5 stars
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