Shopgirl (2005)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338427/
Director: Anand Tucker / Script: Steve Martin
Runtime: 106min
Cast: Steve Martin, Claire Danes, Jason Schwarzman
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Tagline: Relationships don't always fit like a glove.

On the one hand an immature, messy and penniless guy, who is young. On the other hand a wealthy and charming gentleman, who could be your dad. Who would you choose? I didn’t know that Steve Martin actually writes screenplays or novels. This film adaptation of his novel was actually interesting and even if not particularly outstanding it made me want to write about it. The movie presents a love triangle consisting of Mirabelle – a bored salesgirl, Jeremy – an aimless young fellow, and Ray – a wealthy but aging man.

I liked that the story was very close to becoming reality any time. Love triangles, affairs, rich men being involved with young women; such things happen in life. The movie is about a particular one. The way the two men are presented, as Mirabelle encounters them, make the viewers want to choose Ray; he is so stylish, charming and gentlemanly. Jeremy, in contrast to Ray, seems just a moron; immature, weird and terribly messy. No wonder Mirabelle falls in love with Ray. They have a beautiful affair; the problem is only that Ray doesn’t want anything more than just an affair. I found it hard to understand why he couldn’t take the responsibility of loving someone. He has the privilege of going out with a pretty and young woman, and he doesn’t appreciate it. But I already said too much. The cast is fine, Claire Danes is illuminating as Mirabelle; for the role of Ray I read that Tom Hanks was considered, but eventually Steve Martin got to play it, because he figured he was more suitable being so familiar with the script. I must say, I don’t know who wanted Mirabelle to wear such old-fashioned dresses; from the many she wore during the movie, I think I liked only two. But it was fine, she wasn’t the femme fatale type of character; she was rather modest and still beautiful. And fortunately, Jeremy changed a bit by the end of the movie; he became more normal an emotionally more mature.

The movie made me understand why some women prefer wealthy and aging men; helped me see the advantages of such a relationship. But also provided me with a different perspective: wealthy and aging men aren’t always doing anything to keep the attention of a young woman. It truly is an intelligent and sophisticated movie.

Final Destination 2 (2003)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0309593/
Director: David R. Ellis / Script: Jeffrey Reddick, J. Mackye Gruber, Eric Bress
Runtime: 90min
Cast: Ali Larter, A.J. Cook, Michael Landens
Genre: Thriller / Fantasy / Horror
Tagline: You can’t cheat death twice.

“There is a sort of force, all around us, everyday & it determines when you live & die.” Kimberly has a premonition of a road accident in which many people, including herself. She saves those who are meant to die, by blocking the way. But death is coming after the survivors, each of them starts dying in freak accidents, and Kimberly must try to stop it.

From the trilogy, this one seemed the best; maybe because this was the first one I have watched. It relates back to the first one, by flight 180, but everything is clear, so that anyone can watch it without having seen the first one. The movie is tense, mysterious and of course gruesome. First of all, premonition was something that has always fascinated me and this movie deals with it too. Kimberly’s premonition – the accident – is violent, cars crashing, fire; shows clearly that the director is fond of stunts. It’s interesting how the little things gain importance in the film. There are little events that prefigure the tragic accident; like if they were all signs that something bad is going to happen. And this mysterious approach sends chills down the viewer’s spine. Also, the fact that the survivors, who are made up of all kinds of people, start dying one by one accordingly to death’s plan, is puzzling. Then there is the way they die. Again, seemingly insignificant items prove to be important as one thing leads to another and all the coincidences lead to horrific deaths. There are all kinds of accidents during the movie, and you never know which one is going to be fatal for someone. The deaths are pretty inventive, I must admit. The music also contributes to the feeling of mystery and tension.

It’s an interesting thriller from the writers of “The Butterfly Effect”, successfully dealing with a different “what if”. It kept me anxious about how the next person was going to die; the freak accidents were mostly the reason why I watched the whole trilogy. And the whole process, the one thing leading to another was just too nicely executed to not to be puzzled by it.

Miss Potter (2006)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482546/
Director: Chris Noonan / Script: Richard Maltby Jr.
Runtime: 92min
Cast: Renee Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Emily Watson
Genre: Biography / Drama / Romance
Tagline: One of the greatest love stories never told.

It’s an enchanting tale of the life of Beatrix Potter, the talented children’s book author, illustrating her struggles for publishing her books and finding love in the Victorian era. It is Chris Noonan’s first film after “Babe”, and it has won a Truly Moving Picture Award. The director reasoned his choice for directing this movie saying that he was waiting for something unique to perform, something emotional but real.

The movie is lovely and heartwarming. It is set in the summer days of late Victorian and Edwardian England, where Beatrix Potter begins her close connection with her drawings She manages to prove herself as an artist and a writer by getting her books published, and finds love as well. The film illustrates many interesting aspects of the Victorian era with its strict social and moral values. Renee Zellweger is absolutely wonderful! She did a great job; I can’t imagine anyone fitting better in the role of Beatrix Potter. She has such a nice, calm voice, and her character is admirable and inspirational. Ewan McGregor is charming as well. Together they manage to create chemistry on screen and draw attention on their brilliant acting as well. There is just a right amount of animation during the movie, making it more playful and illustrating the connection of the artist with her work. The art direction and photography is excellent; together with the soundtrack they create a sense of feel-good during the film. The sceneries are beautiful. The soundtrack is quite magical, as if taken from a tale. The romantic love-story which evolves during the movie makes the story even more poignant.

It’s quite an ideal movie for all ages, presenting a life-journey with all its tribulations and still ending with hope. I simply was surprised by how good this movie was and how it stimulated emotions of all kinds.