For Your Renting Pleasure

That’s right, my write-up for rentals has changed yet again.  This time around (and hopefully I will stick to it this time) I will write up little blurbs about the movies I have seen in the past week on Fridays, giving you suggestions for what to pick up and what to avoid when considering what to rent that weekend.  On this weeks list we’ve got: The Back-up Plan, The Last SongOperation: Endgame, Repo Men, The Runaways, A Single Man, and The United States of Tara.

Fight for the Last Copy:

United States of Tara: Season One

This Diablo Cody created, Showtime TV show is about a woman who has recently gone off the medications that have helped to suppress the other faces of her multiple personality disorder (or dissociative identity disorder).  Toni Collette plays Tara, and the way in which she moves in and out of these other personalities is pure artistry.  Though this is a serious topic, it does not shy away from the humor of it all, thanks in large part to the people she becomes.  In the beginning she is aware of three: Alice is a 1950s housewife, Buck is the redneck hick with a heart of gold, and T is basically the teenage slut, but eventually another emerges (but I will not spoil in for those who want to watch) in response to the overriding story arc of Tara digging into her past to discover what caused this disorder to take form during her teen years.

The show does not just stop with how this disorder effects Tara, but shows the strain it puts on her family.  John Corbett plays her supportive husband who i leading the search to discover her past and must constantly coral the other personalities (though he is far from ashamed of his wife). [Read more...]

Review: The Kids Are All Right

The Kids Are All Right is a unique and funny dramedy that is driven by its excellent acting on all fronts.

Following a pair of siblings born from the same sperm donor but were each birthed by their separate moms, we pick up just after the oldest, Joni, has turned 18 and can legally request to meet her donor.  Joni is hesitant but agrees at the insistence of her brother, Laser, who wishes to meet his father as he has missed out on that relationship his whole life.  Enter Paul, Nic and Jules’ (Joni and Laser’s moms, respective) sperm donor.  Paul owns a restaurant, is all about being “local”, and has a very laid back feeling on the world.  Paul quickly becomes anxious to be a part of his kids’ lives and Joni and Laser’s feelings are mutual before Joni heads off to college. Tensions arise though as Nic has a hard time letting Paul into her family’s life, while Jules and Paul fall a bit easier into step.

[Read more...]

A Single Man – Finally Out On Blu-Ray and DVD

Hey there all, one of the best movies of last year, #4 by my books, is finally out on home video to rent or own and it should not be missed.

A Single Man is a beautiful and wonderfully acted tale about love and loss at what it can do to a person, driving them to their breaking point.  I can’t recommend this film enough and I have included my original review below.

But don’t take my word for it, go check it out ASAP, because I know most of you haven’t!

Rent at NetFlix, Buy on Blu-ray and DVD.

My Original Review: A Single Man

A Single Man is a career defining performance from Colin Firth and one of the strongest, most confident, and beautiful directorial debuts I can recall from Tom Ford.

[Read more...]

Review: A Single Man

A Single Man is a career defining performance from Colin Firth and one of the strongest, most confident, and beautiful directorial debuts I can recall from Tom Ford.
The film’s theme touch on everything from loss, death, love, friendship, and purpose in life and never feels forced, always natural and honest discussions on the subjects. The film follows a man, George, who decides that today will be the day he finally gets over his lost love that died tragically in a car accident while away on vacation. The two had been together for years and months after their death George was still having problems everyday getting through his life and not drowning in sadness.
The film takes place over a single day and engages from start to finish with a number of interesting stops along the way for George as he tries to move on from his lover, Jim. As George grapples with the struggles of the day, they trigger moments in the past with Jim and the scenes are poignant and touching and we really get a sense of their relationship and bond with little screen time devoted to them.
Tom Ford directs the adaptation of Christopher Isherwood and this film doesn’t waste a single frame of the film. Ford is/was a clothing designer so the man knows details and it is no surprise that his film is so articulate and beautifully put together. Every shot is interesting and superbly framed and I can not wait to have this at home on Blu-ray. [Read more...]