Reviews

In general, 'This is Us' is brilliant. The way the stories are woven with the present and the past generally has me awed, glued, connected. This though...this episode moved me deep in my spirit. I bawled! Ugly, hurt but accepting tears. That's not even the right expression but I am just so overcome with emotion. So poignant. There are not a lot of episodes and shows like this on television. Simply exquisite.

I was a little sceptical of this movie especially when I saw the length (2 hours is really long) and I was not quite sure what sort of plot could be developed to make it worthwhile. I must say that it was worth it. This was just beautiful. Beautiful, well developed characters. A story line with hope and promise and self-belief. I enjoyed how Robert De Niro's character fathered/grandfathered Anne Hathaway's Jules. It was a beautiful relationship. I loved that the film was 'clean' and pure and the little comedy in the midst of it all just sorta provided that well needed release that good humour tends to bring. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

When I first heard of this movie I thought "how good could this possibly be?" I never thought it would be of worth to be honest. Then I decided to check out Ryan Gosling's IMDb profile after seeing a report that he was in a relationship with Eva Mendes. I read the little summary that usually accompanies the movies and I said 'ok...let me give it a try and see what it's about.' So I did. I gave "The place beyond the pines" a try. From the very beginning it was captivating. A shot of a man's back as he walks through a crowded park with a t-shirt that appeared to be on the wrong side. I wondered "where is this movie really going?" Even at the very last minute of the movie I really still didn't know. It was a brilliant piece of story telling following the lives of men and their families and how there seeks to be a balance in the whole equation of life. One person does wrong and it affects another (and a whole host of others) and it continues to do so for a lifetime affecting multiple generations. This movie tells about family, love (if you could call it that), power, corruption, justice, honesty. In the end it really tells the story about how good conquers evil...as cliché as that is. I was left feeling absolutely moved by this movie. There were no tears but my spirit is heavy. It has left me reflective. If you're in the mood for drama that brings about reflection, watch this brilliant display of story telling. Watch Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper lead this cinematic work of art with the simplest of words and expressions.

So I started watching this movie not really sure what to expect because I'm not much of a Sci-Fi fan. I watched it on the basis that there have been so many good reviews. I have not regretted my decision. It is impossible to put into words how this movie actually makes you feel. It is superb. It is intense. When you consider that there are only 2 actors really in this film and it whittles down essentially to 1, it is mesmerizing that it could be so intense. I am literally unable to move effectively- I have to give myself some time. This movie took me on a journey. I didn't know whether Ryan would die or survive. You empathize with her but then it's almost beyond that...you experience everything she's experiencing without actually experiencing it. The visual effects are awesome and astounding and they take you out of your comfort and bring you along with them. The sound mimics your own internal processes with that wicked heart beat effect. Just brilliant. Brilliant.

The Heat started out fairly well with Sandra Bullock's character but by the next scene that introduced Melissa McCarthy's character I was left wondering what I had gotten myself into. I was aware that there were expletives amok in this movie but somehow I never got the impression that there would be so many. This opening scene for Ms. McCarthy's character grated on my nerves because I could not see the purpose of the expletives. Despite the fact that there were some tender moments shared between the two lead characters and a story line that one could follow and become immersed in, the utilization of expletives coloured these moments. I would love to say that comedy is not necessarily gained by utilizing a plethora of expletives. The comedy lies in how well lines are delivered and that alone would have made this movie so much better.

I ended up watching "A Thousand Words" with wariness and very low expectations...truly only expecting a good little laugh rather than a bellyful. I definitely just felt bored and wanted a little something to watch and to veer away from the types of movies I generally indulge in. The movie surprised me however; because though I did laugh a little and it fulfilled the purpose of pulling me out of boredom, I was left in a thoughtful frame of mind due to the potency of the issue at hand. This is one of those movies that when it gets to the crux of the matter and finds your heart there is no question as to the fact that there will be deep introspection. To this point I am left wondering what are some of the things I value in life and if they're important to value. I wonder what I'd do if truly I had such limited words and at the end I'd simply die. It's very thought provoking and it's a real concept to grapple with. The acting was merely 'ok', some of the scenes were lame and could be construed as mildly offensive but the story line and the morale are very resonant. A good watch.

I started watching "Waiting for Forever" and maybe for the first half hour or so I wavered between engaged and disengaged. The content seemed simple and quite frankly was bordering on boring and I wondered "where is this going?' Somehow, though, it had slowly started sucking me in and I became engaged with the actors and the story line. It first grabbed my interest from a psychological standpoint because I started wondering if one of the lead characters was indeed suffering from a mental illness. That intellectual part of me just became dissolved after a short while because the movie began to tug at my heartstrings in an unbelievable way and made me almost weepy. I loved this movie. It caters to the human emotions on a primal level and just engages your heart so easily and swiftly. Simple, innocent, moving. Awesome and Heartwarming. Good job.