I rented a couple of really good movies in the last week. The first movie is Half Nelson. Up and coming Ryan Gosling stars as a inner city teacher and girls basketball coach that has a problem with drug addiction. Gosling, is amazing in this role. I will say I have not liked any of his previous movies but he is cleary one of the most talented young actors. Not that playing a drug addict is that difficult of a role, how many other actors have done this, but you dont want to miss him in this movie. The movie demonstrates balancing an addiction while not trying to let it affect you in other areas of your life. However, we know that cannot happen, drug addiction whether it be a $20 a week marijuana addiction or $50 a day crack habit, it effects you in every area of your life. Gosling does a great job showing this. He is backed by strong performances by Anthony Mackie and Shareeka Epps. This movie is very good and I reccommend to everyone.
The other movie I watched was The Prestige, and although I didnt have high expectations about a revenge movie based upon magic acts, the Prestige suprised me. Although this movie is very confusing and the story jumps from passed to present without enough time to even allow the viewer to catch up, the story is strong enough to keep you intune. With its many twists and turns and good performances by Bale and Jackman this movie will for sure keep you guessing. The one major problem I have with movies that try and trick and fool you is they usually make most of the plot twists really believable, but then right at the end they have a turn that nobody could have predicted because it is completely impossible. I mean I love a movie that can test my logic skills and then back it up with a good explanantion as to how it is possible, but end like that. You dont need some over the top unbelievable turn of events to leave the viewer asking a million questions when the movie gets over. The Saw trilogy is great at this. Overall i think the Director Christopher Nolan is very talented if not over ambitious. Much like his movie Memento which I enjoyed but confused the hell out of me, this movie jumps from a clever reveng movie to a turn of the century sci-fi movie which is a pretty hard transition. With all that being said I enjoyed it because it is entertaining the story is difficult to follow but it gives you chances to catch up and there are some good performances by Jackman, Bale, David Bowie, and the beautiful Scarlett Johanson the inspired a humpday tribute.
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2 comments:
I will get Half Nelson. Haven't seen it.
I also really liked The Prestige, even though I wasn't expecting much. I was thoroughly entertained and the performances were very good.
Strangely, the same night I watched The Prestige, I watched another film about late 19th Century magic acts, but this time in Austria rather than London.
The Illusionist, starring Edward Norton. Perhaps I'm just biased in favor of Norton, but I really enjoyed his performance, the classist story line and the brooding, vengeful and somewhat quiet but intense character played by Norton. As much as I liked The Prestige, I liked this one even better. Jessica Biel is probably too hot to be a 19th Century debutante in Austria, but hey, it works.
Unlike a lot of Norton's characters, this one is pretty damn quiet, especially after a major plot event that leaves him seeking revenge. However, he delivers a lot without saying much, and Paul Giamatti is just as good.
Timmay,
I have also seen the illusionist I guess I would say I liked both of them about the same. I cannot believe those movies came out at the same time they share a lot of similarities. Anyways Norton is one of those actors that i could watch play any role (next movie on my list is the Painted Veil which got great reviews). He is one of the best in the bizz and though I didnt like Giamatti in the lead role in Lady By the Water, I did enjoy him in this movie and other supporting roles. I would also agree Beal and Johansson are hard to believe in both of these movies but I can live with it.
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