A Tale of Two Vampires

I saw two vampire flicks in the last few days, Twilight, and Let the Right One in. Twilight was so bad that I won't even link to it. LTROI was very good, and very well-produced. I almost felt that it was a response to Twilight, like in a film class where they show you a movie that does everything wrong, then a similar movie that does everything right.

Sherrybaby

So admidst the cafuffle of the big thesis defense, festivities, and such, I managed to watch a movie this weekend. All at once, not broken into three or more parts. (I love Netflix Instant Watch!)

Being a fan of most of Maggie Gyllenhaal's work, I really wanted to watch Sherrybaby. Oh my. What an incredible delivery.

The basic story is the struggles faced by someone with too many things going against them. Fresh out of prison for theft and illegal drug use, Sherry wants desperately to get her life on track and to forge a true relationship with her young daughter. However, it seems that trouble follows her, and her life begins to spiral into its former cave of drugs and men.

The acting was incredible in this film, but the content answers my question of why this film did not receive more attention. The scenes are a little too raunchy and real at times. However, I think that the story was very well told. Highly recommended.

Juno

I really, really wanted to hate this movie, particularly after Diablo Cody won an Oscar for Best Screenplay. I measure the winners of Oscars as more of the 'darlings' and those flowers that get picked not from a barren wasteland, but simply a flower in a field of flowers---the winners that aren't special or particularly insightful with their productions; they were just conveniently picked. Don't get me wrong, I sometimes agree with the results, but often I think sadly of the brilliant films and voices that go quietly unnoticed by Hollywood's money-driven machine.

Anyways, as much as I really wanted to abhor this movie, I wound up not loving it, but liking it. I hated the stupid fake slang and some of the ~snappy~ dialogue as much as most of my peers have, but getting past that, the story was great, and the characters fairly heroic and likable. Jennifer Garner is incredible. I've always seen her play someone confident and strong, and to see her as this guarded yuppie so desperate for something was refreshing, and frankly, breathtaking.

Ellen Page was a bit overhyped as Juno, delivering her lines with a bit too much umph for a scared, pregnant teenager. I felt she was just too "whatever" about the whole thing. I mean, she was 16! And pregnant!

J. K. Simmons was funny and endearing as Juno's father, as was Alison Janney as her stepmother. Michael Cera was just downright adorable. Like AH-DOR-ABLE. The dorky gold and maroon track uniform was the perfect touch to making his character both real, vulnerable, and ultimately charming.

Paris, Je t'aime

I haven't done a movie review for awhile, and recently, I saw a very good one worth sharing with my readers. Paris Je T'aime is a wonderful compilation of films by award-winning international directors and writers.

I love collections of short films, and this one didn't disappoint. If you don't like the current storyline, just wait! It will be over momentarily, and you will see something entirely new!

However, most of these stories were engaging, and I found myself almost tearing at the screen in delight as each tale unfolded. Some were more complete stories, but some were more scenes of a life.

Best thing I've seen in quite some time!