"One Day"

July 15, 1988.  After a meet cute on the night of their college graduation, Emma and Dexter begin a lifelong friendship, spanning over two decades and different countries.

Emma (Anne Hathaway) is a middle-class bookish with a more realistic and at times pessimistic outlook on life.  Dexter (Jim Sturgess) is a charmer from a wealthy family who could be anything he wants to be.  Every July 15 we're shown snapshots of their lives - aspiration, career, love, loss, divorce, death - together and apart.

Hathaway fits the role of Emma, although it takes getting used to her British accent.  While we get to see Dexter's side with his family, we do not get the same benefit with Emma.  With booze and drugs and women, the character of Dexter isn't likeable; it is to Sturgess' fine performance and boyish charm that he's very much tolerable.  While Emma's fashion sense and inner confidence blossom, it's actually Dexter that we see the evolution the most. The weary, older Dexter in the later part of 2000s is a world apart from the fresh-faced, eager Dex when he first appears.

There are adorable and tear-jerker moments for sure.  The first July 15 carries great promise of what's to come.  Although when part of the ending reveals the last half of their first day together, it's hard to believe that they would decide to remain just friends.  The flirtatious French jaunt earlier in the years is fun and the later reunion an emotional one. 

Based on a novel written by David Nicholls, the story does not translate well onto the screen.  As the years progress, we see changes in Emma and Dexter and their surroundings, but it feels like the scenes are merely events moving along through the motion. In attempt to fit in as many years as possible, the result is almost like being read narratives about what they do.  Instead of delving deeper into certain segments of their lives, investing in the characters and connecting more with their relationships in the process, the film inexplicably leaves pivotal milestones offscreen. 

The execution makes it nearly devoid of what makes a story interesting; the build-up, character and relationship development, and payoff.  The last third act leading to the ending is very anti-climatic.  And the ending appears to be out of nowhere, aiming for a shock value.  It's a shame for a story that has so much potentials to be a classic like "The Notebook."

"One Day" has a unique twist in telling an epic love story.  Unfortunately, the intrigue stops short with the concept. 

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/one-day-movie-review/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/3qw5ve8
DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/3cx4ld2

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Note: "One Day"

"One Day" review is now up on http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/one-day-movie-review/  It will be posted on the blog at a later time.

 

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/the_moviemaven/

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"Another Earth"

What if there were another ‘you?’  Wouldn’t you wonder whether this other you made the same choices as you did?  What would you learn and say if you could stand outside of yourself and meet you?  This is “Another Earth,” which made a splash at Sundance.

In “Another Earth,” not only that another planet is discovered from behind the sun, but literally another Earth, a mirror of ours.  And the inhabitants are not simply living and breathing things, but they are us.

Rhoda Williams (Brit Marling) is a promising astrophysics student who has just been accepted by MIT.  In the evening of celebration, she parties and drinks too much.  On the road, while looking out the window and staring up to the identical Earth in the sky, she crashes her car into a minivan.  The crash leaves John Burroughs (William Mapother),  a Yale music professor, in a coma and kills his wife and toddler son.

Four years later, instead of graduating from college, Rhoda is released from behind bars.  She punishes herself and withdraws from the world.  She takes a job as a high school janitor.  That sole survivor, John, is now a shell of his former self.  After finding out that this gifted composer spends his days sleeping in, drinking and on medication, and lives in an unkempt home, Rhoda commits in doing the unimaginable.  The attempted suicide in the snow is a striking scene. 

Rhoda weaves herself into John’s life in a desperate bid to help him.  Her attempts to apologize fall through.  Through her cleaning service and companionship, she and John eventually bond – without John knowing about her true identity.  Her record is sealed since she’s a minor at the time of her conviction. 

When a company offers a writing contest for a space travel to ‘Earth 2′ (as it’s called b by our Earth), Rhoda sends her essay and wins a ticket.  She’s willing to venture out to the unknown universe for another chance, even though it’s not clear what kind of chance that is – perhaps changing the past, making a different decision, or a new beginning.  There’s a theory that when each Earth is aware of the existence of another, the synchronicity would be broken and a new reality is formed.

“Another Earth” is a character-centered drama about anguish, guilt, grief, repetance and redemption – with  science fiction as a backdrop.  Throughout there’s a dreaded sense as the story moves along toward Rhoda’s eventual reveal to John.  Marling is a darling here.  She’s a natural with her soulful expressions.  Somehow she succeeds in making you symphatize with her character.

“Another Earth” is quietly moody and haunting, with pensive looks, singular sounds and long walks.  The photography is uneven between amateurish and arresting.  I had to do a double take on the ending, as it could be interpreted in different ways.  It’s a letdown initially, but it grows on me.  Still, my curiosity nature would have liked to learn more about Earth 2. 

The premise is incredibly intriguing that it’s hard to live up to its potentials. There are so many ways to craft and execute a story out of it.  Personally, I hope that another filmmaker would run with the concept and do another take. 

If you’re looking for a pure science fiction or action, you won’t find it here.  But if you’re looking to ponder about possibilities, this is one of those films that will make you think. 

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/another-earth-movie-review/
DVD: http://tinyurl.com/3wlvz86

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"Rise of the Planet of the Apes"

[Note: "Another Earth" review is up next]

Initially I had no intention of seeing it, but I became a believer during the Comic-Con panel presentation of the ape flick.  To say that Caesar (the lead CGI ape) is a real character is an understatement.  Amazingly human.  Hair-raising good.  HOLY APESOME!

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/3fqndbs
DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/3ks7uo7

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Just For Fun: 100 Movie Lines in 200 Seconds

Check out a cool clip from YouTube - 100 movie lines in 200 seconds (all kinds of genres):

 

 

 

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Upcoming Movies: August 2011

August 5

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (http://www.apeswillrise.com/) - In present day San Francisco, a scientist looks for a cure for Alzheimer's disease by experimenting on a chimpanzee named Caesar. The development of animal intelligence brings about a war for supremacy between humans and apes.

August 12

"Final Destination 5" (http://finaldestinationmovie.warnerbros.com/index.html) - Teen survivors of a suspension-bridge collapse soon begin to fear that there's no way you can cheat Death.

August 19

"One Day" (http://focusfeatures.com/one_day) - Emma meets Dexter on their night of their college graduation: July 15th, 1989. And for the next two decades, every July 15th reveals how the two are faring in life and love.

"Fright Night" (http://www.welcometofrightnight.com/) - A teenager guesses that his new neighbor is a vampire responsible for a string of recent deaths. When no one he knows believes him, he enlists the opportunistic host of his favorite TV show, to help him take down his neighbor and his guardian.

See the full gallery on Posterous

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"Cowboys & Aliens"

A lot better than I thought it would be.  I had my doubt before deciding to go for it.  Honestly, the concept is just too hokey on paper.  Westerns and aliens don't mix.  But I remembered the enthused reception at the 2010 Comic-Con.  Although how could it not be?  "James Bond" and "Indiana Jones" sharing the same stage?  And with Jon Favreau (director of "Iron Man") at the helm, how bad could it be? 

Favreau did it right by making it straight-laced.  Any funny bits come out naturally without the goofiness. However, it lacks characters that we could care about.  It has pacing and cohesion issues.  And some things are either not explained or contradict the previous explanation.  If you're in an 'unsure' camp, it would just depend on your expectations. The flick is flat overall, but even with the weird mashup of the wild west, Indians and aliens, and such issues, this sci-fi western does offer some action, suspense, adventure and humor of a summer blockbuster.

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/3lk26jg
DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/3wyrsgc

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