Prime (2005)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387514/
Written & directed by: Ben Younger
Runtime: 105min
Cast: Uma Thurman, Meryl Streep, Bryan Greenberg
Genre: Comedy / Romance / Drama
Tagline: She thought she could tell her therapist anything; she's about to discover that she's already said too much...

This movie is a versatile, atypical comedy about aspects of a controversial relationship between a 37-year-old divorcee and a young artist. Recently divorced Rafi meets David and they start seeing each other. Meanwhile, Rafi tells her therapist details about her relationship, who encourages her to forget the age difference and get involved with the guy, only until she finds out that the guy Rafi is going out with, is actually her son.

I didn’t get the title, later I read that it has to do something with the ages, which are both prime numbers. Weird, it could have been more creative. The storytelling is great; we find out later on in the movie that David is Lisa Metzger’s son, and things get complicated and funny. Also, some events are first talked about during the therapy session and afterwards shown as it happened. The movie deals with subjects such as the importance and effects of age difference in a relationship, religion, and psychiatric ethics. The action is set in a contemporary Manhattan, and the whole movie tends to be realistic. The presented affair is not an ordinary one, it is not sweetened, all kinds of realistic problems arise and the characters act as they would probably do in real life. There are hilarious moments during the film; imagine yourself telling intimate things about your relationship to the mother of your partner. I laughed my head off, but also realized how embarrassing that would be. Plus that the shrink has a therapist herself, was weird in a funny way. Meryl Streep was brilliant, and Uma Thurman seemed like a nice choice for a still attractive woman at that age.

Definitely a good film, it is no chick-flick, not even romantic in the traditional sense and doesn’t end cliché-like. It’s a down to earth comedy about an unconventional relationship with issues, which sometimes set people apart. Will they make it to the future?

American Beauty (1999)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0169547/
Director: Sam Mendes / Script: Alan Ball
Runtime: 122min
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Mena Suvari, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley, Anette Benning
Genre: Drama
Tagline: …look closer

There is this seemingly ideal suburban family. If you look closer, you will get insight into the many aspects of American social life, which is far from being perfect. Lester Burnham, the narrator of the movie, is having a mid-life crisis; he becomes infatuated with his daughter’s (Jane) colleague (Angela) and he considers he must change certain aspects of his insignificant life.

The film deals with concepts such as beauty, family, the American Dream, social relations and life. The truth and the reality of social life is not always, or let’s say never, as it seems. The movie presents all kinds of problems that the constituents of the seemingly perfect families may have, approached with dark humour and irony. The actors’ performances are remarkable. The cast is great; Mena Suvari is perfect in her embodiment of Angela, the blonde, superficial hottie. The movie is filled with fantasies of Lester about her; his illusions involving many petals of roses. Lester ultimately transforms from being a loser; he leaves his job, talks back to his manipulative wife, buys a car, works out etc. Meanwhile his daughter, Jane befriends with the neighbour guy Ricky, a kind of a weirdo who films everything. He is a quite interesting character; he asserts that there is so much beauty in life and “an entire life behind things”. The plot is intelligently constructed; portrays perfectly the reality of the American community with its many aspects.

It’s a movie which makes people think. Illustrates perfectly the dysfunctional relationships that govern our social life, and treats beauty as a part of everyday life, which we are more likely to overlook. I liked the movie’s approach to these themes, still the film seems a bit overrated to me.

A Good Woman (2004)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379306/
Director: Mike Barker / Script: Oscar Wilde & Howard Himelstein
Runtime: 93min
Cast: Helen Hunt, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Umbers, S. C. Moore
Genre: Drama / Comedy / Romance
Tagline: Every saint has a past. Every sinner has a future.

This is a movie about manners, morality and gossip, based on Oscar Wilde’s four-act comedy, "Lady Windemere's Fan." The story is set in the 1930s, when Stella Erlynne a notorious gold-digger heads for Italy to seek for new opportunities. Her object is a newlywed, Mr. Windemere, whom he apparently starts an affair with. Meanwhile fragile Mrs. Windemere is consoled by Lord Darlington, and Tuppy, an older nobleman falls for Mrs. Erynne.

The plot is quite complex, but extraordinarily written and executed. The movie maintains interest from the beginning until the very end of it. The atmosphere is created with the help of the wonderful scenery of the Amalfi Coast, glamourous costumes and fitting music. The dialogues play an important role and gossip is an essential story builder. The characters are interesting, the acting is outstanding; the two female leads shine in the film. It is a world of glamour, particular moral values, intrigue, scandal and gossip, where reputation is more imperative than ever. The misunderstandings create tension and increase curiosity and interest. During the movie, numerous wise aphorisms (by Oscar Wilde) are stated, some of them quite popular, like “Love is rarely pure, and never simple” or “Women don’t want to be understood, they want to be loved.”

It’s a lovely, lighthearted movie, which uses its power of wit to capture the viewers’ attention. I am not familiar with the play, but the movie definitely won my appreciation.

Lars And The Real Girl (2007)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805564/
Director: Craig Gillespie / Script: Nancy Oliver
Runtime: 106min
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider, Kelli Garner, Patricia Clarkson Genre: Drama / Comedy
Tagline: The search for true love begins outside the box.

Should I laugh or should I cry? That was my question during the movie. This movie is at times funny, but if you look at the whole picture, it’s actually quite sad. It presents Lars; a lonely, shy and delusional introvert who finally introduces the girl of his dreams to his brother and sister-in-law. The only problem is that the girl is actually a sex-doll ordered from the Internet. Of course, at first everyone is shocked, but later on the whole town supports Lars, by going along with his delusion.

Exceptional idea, I must say, very authentic one. Ryan Gosling has already proved his talent in “The Notebook”, and now he amazes us again. He really managed to get in the shoes of his character; he even took up a nervous tic. And Lars doesn’t seem like an easy character to personify; he is delusional, lonely, shy, and he literally feels pain at the touch of anyone which is quite unbelievable. He is afraid of a relationship with a real girl, and probably that’s the reason why he strikes up that unconventional relationship with Bianca, the doll. His psychiatrist advises his family to go along with his delusion and let him work out his communication problems by himself. It’s quite admirable how the whole town supports him and nobody laughs at him, even if they find it weird. That’s a real community spirit! I couldn’t wait for Lars to get better, especially when there is the real girl, Margo, right at his work place and is quite clear that she likes him. Everything is up to Lars: he makes all the decisions; he is the one who can decide when his relationship with Bianca should be over. I really felt sorry for him at times. The song which the movie begins with seems quite matching, for some reason I can easily associate it with Lars’ character.

This movie won’t be a disappointment to anyone: it’s heartwarming, optimistic and a little bit sad too. I found it morally instructive, because at first everyone laughs at the idea of a relationship with a doll, and everyone thinks it’s insane and shameful; but the movie provides with a good example how to react in such cases. A thought-provoking movie is always a good movie.

Match Point (2005)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416320/
Written and Directed by: Woody Allen
Runtime: 124min
Cast: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Scarlett Johansson, Emily Mortimer, Matthew Goode
Genre: Drama/ Romance/ Thriller
Tagline: There are no little secrets.


A perfect movie about the forbidden fruit; combines luck, passion, desire, temptation. Woody Allen proves his directing and writing skills with this film, more powerfully than ever. I’ve seen this movie a long time ago, but now, renewing my impressions about it, I understand perfectly why I considered it my favourite. Chris Wilton becomes the tennis instructor of wealthy Tom Hewitt. He meets Tom’s sister, Chloe who falls in love with him; too bad Chris likes Tom’s fiancée, Nola. He starts an affair, tries to keep both women, but eventually he must choose one of them.

The actors’ performances are notable; the cast is very nicely put together: Scarlett Johansson is a great choice for a sexy, femme fatale (better than Kate Winslet would have been); Jonathan Rhys Meyers has a remarkable sex-appeal; and the two actors playing the siblings, Emily Mortimer and Matthew Goode are appropriate for their nice, but not as much outstanding characters. The movie is filled with desire, temptation; the attraction between Nola and Chris is obvious from the beginning. “Men always seem to wonder”; I think women too. The flirting scenes are exciting, I mean the whole movie has a sexual nature; there’s a scene in the rain which is very expressive. Both Chris and Nola know that they aren’t supposed to get involved with each other, but the attraction is decisive. “Passions are passions, but we’re both very involved with other people.” I find it quite impossible not to be tempted to cheat with such attractive and tempting partners as the character of Nola and Chris are. There also is the question of money or love. Money mostly represented by Chloe, who can offer Chris material satisfaction and social status. Of course, as I previously mentioned, things get out of control and Chris has to make his decision. The plot is cleverly executed; effectively presents complicate ideas about adultery, luck, passion. The importance of luck is mentioned several times during the film. “People are afraid to face how great a part of life is dependent on luck. It’s scary to think so much is out of control.” I find it quite thought-provoking; considering fate an important factor. I find the soundtrack made up of opera unusual for a contemporary movie; but it is not at all bad, dramatizes the movie.

Supposedly it’s the director’s favourite movie of his owns, which is of no surprise to me. It’s an interesting approach, leaves you thinking about a lot of essential stuff. Does lust and desire outweigh morality and fidelity? Does fate really determine our life? I find it possible.

The Magdalene Sisters (2002)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318411/
Written & directed by: Peter Mullan
Runtime: 119min
Cast: Nora-Jane Noone, Dorothy Duffy, Anne-Marie Duff, Geraldine McEwan, Eileen Walsh
Genre: Drama
Tagline: In a place that defied belief their only hope was each other.

The movie was inspired by the documentary “Sex in a cold climate”, in which four former inmates were interviewed. It is based on real events, which makes it an even more powerful film. It focuses on the fate of three Irish girls in 1964, Margaret, Bernadette and Rose, who are given into the custody of the Madgalene Sisters Asylum to correct their supposedly sinful behavior and endure a dehumanizing abuse as inmates. Margaret gets there because she has been raped, Rose because of her out-of-wedlock pregnancy, and Bernadette was simply too pretty and flirted with some boy. Even the reasons are staggering.

Life in such laundries was quite shocking. The inmates were put to endless toil, hard work was daily; the Sisters had them by the short hairs, they were physically and psychologically abused: beaten, mocked, severely punished. What didn’t people do in the name of religion? The heartless and hypocrite Sisters hid behind a religious façade. It is a very powerful movie, it shakes you. Geraldine McEwan’s performance is outstanding; she seems just right for the role of Sister Bridget, who is a strict, bitter, old hag. Her voice is calm and kind but also creepy. The asylum seems worse than prison. The treatment these “fallen” women got is cruel and brutal. There is one scene where they all stand naked and two Sisters mock them and laugh at them. And still Margaret, when she has the chance, doesn’t run away. Why? Some girls tried to escape or conformed to the lifestyle in some manner; others perished under the supervision of the nuns, like Crispina who became insane.

It is not a movie for the fainthearted. At the end of the movie it is reported that around 30.000 women were inmates in such institutions. The last such laundry was closed in 1996; absolutely shocking! What I can’t imagine is how could parents send their children to such places? A former inmate told the director that the reality of the Magdalene Asylums was much worse than the way it was depicted in the movie. Unbelievable. I think the only pleasant thing in this movie was that Irish folksong in the beginning, sung by the priest and accompanied by that wonderful drum.

Hard Candy (2005)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424136/
Director: David Slade / Script: Brian Nelson
Runtime: 104min
Cast: Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Tagline: Strangers shouldn’t talk to little girls.


Do you want to get impressed? This movie surely does all it can to sweep you off your feet and send chills down your spine. It is David Slade's first feature film. Here’s the story: Hayley, a 14-year-old chats on the Internet with Jeff, a 32-year-old charming photographer. They meet despite the big age difference, and since Hayley suspects he’s a pedophile, she attempts to expose him.

The plot of the film is quite simplified, the cast is not numerous at all; the accent is put on the dialogue, which clearly is the basis of the movie. And it isn’t boring at all! The conversations are sharp, daring, interesting, and sarcastic. The script is very well written. Hayley’s attitude changes drastically; and the stuff that happen in Jeff’s apartment are absolutely shocking. The idea is very original and the execution of it is perfect; I have never seen any movies, not even similar to this masterpiece. Some ideas are very bold, and I appreciate every daring approach on the big screen. Even the title draws attention.

It was Ellen Page’s first movie that I saw; initially, I didn’t like her for personal reasons (it reminded me of someone) and for her role in this movie, but after watching more of her movies, I had to admit that she is just amazing. Patrick Wilson is attractive, and I have absolutely no complaints about his acting skills. He was very convincing in this movie too; in fact it made me not care whether Jeff was a pedophile or not. I felt pity for him and I was totally angry with Hayley. The movie at times was like a cat and mouse chase; only that this time the mouse gets to manipulate the cat. Adjectives best describing the movie are: tense, thrilling, shocking, and intense. It maintains interest right until the end. There is no music, if I had noticed it right, but that actually, besides being a bit strange, is quite perfect: there is no need for intensifiers. Without music it feels so real; the dialogue is in the focus of the spectators’ attention. And the setting, that apartment is like…wow! The filming technique and the editing couldn’t have been better; I liked how many times the actors’ face expressions are in the focus of the camera. The close-ups make it all seem so personal. The whole movie took only 18 days to film. Ellen Page’s performances in the movie are admirable; she’s quite young and still, can cope with many famous actresses.

All in all, I’m impressed. Awesome job! “Nothing is yours when you invite a teenager into your home.” The movie lives up to its title: it is a hard candy; it seems all sweet in the beginning, but becomes quite tough. But this is only my interpretation, because originally the title comes from Internet slang for an under-aged girl ;)