The Lincoln Lawyer

Mick Haller, a cocky defense lawyer who's always out on his Lincoln, represents a wealthy realtor by the name of Louis Roulet for attempted murder. As evidences pile up and pieces fall together, Mick starts to discover lies, secrets, connections and at last, the dangerous and ugly truth.

I've read the book about two or three years ago but up until now I'm in love with it. It's written intelligently. I saw the movie a couple of weeks ago and I'm very much happy about it. It was done exquisitely. 

I am one with those who say 'books are better than movies,' but I'd admit I was excited to see the movie adaptation of TLL when I first heard about it. I was actually afraid it would become something like James Patterson's Along Came A Spider movie which was a far cry from the brilliance of the book, good thing was I was wrong, TLL became something like Nicholas Spark's The Notebook. I'm not saying that the movie is better than the book but what I mean is that it's not disappointing and the movie stuck with the book's plot in more ways than not. There were some differences but I didn't see them affect the storyline that much. The movie is a bit fast-paced but it's impossible to not appreciate it. The actors' performances were solid. I haven't seen McConaughey perform as good as he did with TLL since How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days. Tomei and Philippe were good as well. Michael Connelly and Brad Furman both deserve a round of applause! The Lincoln Lawyer is highly recommended and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. :)

Hard Candy

Strangers shouldn't talk to little girls.

Hard Candy is a 2005 psychological thriller about Hayley Stark, a fourteen year old girl who took on thirty two year old photographer Jeff Kohlver to expose him of pedophilia.

 Hard Candy is far from mainstream. It's compelling in a way I can't understand. It's disturbing yet enjoyable. I was caught between wanting to know the truth and telling myself I already know the truth while the whole story unfold. Though the movie's more on talking, it's impossible to be bored with it. Some other good things about this movie is the script and the actors. The emotion was raw, the intensity was almost tangible. Page was brilliant and so was Wilson but I'd have to give it to Ellen Page for convincing me she's both innocent and a nutcase. Hard Candy is one awesome movie for those who are ready to contemplate and squirm. :)

When In Rome

All is fair in love and Rome.

Beth is a successful career woman but an unlucky girl when it comes to love. When in Rome for her sister's wedding, she saw Nick, the guy she liked with another girl, she got drunk and decided to steal coins from the famed Fountain of Love and the next thing she knew she's being aggressively pursued by the men who threw the coins she had stolen from the fountain. Nick constantly tried to ask her out, thinking that he is also under the spell just like her other suitors, she decided to do the right thing which is to return the coins to their owners, already accepting the fact that if she did so, she might lose Nick whom she grew to love but she didn't know she's in for quite a surprise.

The movie is just okay. Not as romantic or funny as I hoped it would be which is obviously disappointing. I think the story is too shallow and forgettable if not for Bell and Duhamel. The setting is the best factor in this movie and I think it would've been better if the story showed more of Rome's beauty. One awkwardly funny thing in this flick is watching Danny DeVito chase Kristen Bell, I mean that is some kind of humor, right? Well, simply put, the movie can be called a waste of its actors' talents. When in Rome is not for those who want to enjoy a cheesy  love story, it's more likely for those who want to see a movie just for the sake of seeing one. 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

The movie is an adaptation of Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid, directed by Thor Freudenthal starring Zachary Gordon and Robert Capron. I haven't read the book and I don't think I could anytime soon. I found the movie okay. Its' not something I'd be a big fan of.  Diary of a Wimpy Kid tells the story of Greg, a boy stuck in middle school with who he likes calling morons and bullies, his schemes/attempts to attain the recognition and status he thinks he deserves, his friendship with Rowley and of course his journal, which he doesn't like being called a diary, that contains his thoughts and opinions. The movie would be good for kids to see though I'm not entirely sure about some of the words used which may be slightly alarming for some parents but all in all it's a fun flick that encompasses good lessons for everybody and of course, ensures a good laugh. 

Never Let Me Go

Kathy, Tommy and Ruth spent their childhood in a seemingly idyllic boarding school. They grew up bearing the idea that what they are to become is for something special. They grew more, they learned and they loved while waiting for their fate, a sacrificial reality that explains why their very existence is so-called special.

 Warning: This is not a feel-good movie. Be prepared to contemplate. 
Never let me go is based on a critically acclaimed novel by Kazuo Ishiguro. I haven't read the book yet but I'm looking forward to it. The movie was, well, as anticipated, a drama, and then there came a sci-fi part, a bit surprising indeed but it was still heart-wrenching. It's so sad it's actually depressing. It's interesting and moving, I really did appreciate every moment of the film. Mulligan and Garfield gave superbly solid performances. It's definitely one of the most beautiful stories I've ever seen. 

Quotations:

Kathy H: It had never occurred to me that our lives, so closely interwoven, could unravel with such speed. If I'd known, maybe I'd have kept tighter hold of them and not let unseen tides pull us apart. 

Miss Lucy:  You have to know who you are, and what you are. It's the only way to lead decent lives. 

 

Miss Emily: We didn't have to look into your souls, we had to see if you had souls at all.

The Town

The Town, yes, I really did watch this movie. 

Why? I don't know, but for some reason I'm glad I did. 

The movie is about Doug McRay (Affleck), a long time thief who is looking for one big final heist so he can leave the life he once knew but things aren't that easy, everything got more complicated when he fell in love with Claire (Hall), a girl involved in one of his group's heist and when an FBI agent decided to watch his every move to be able to bring him and his crew down.

Ben Affleck, being the director and the lead did a really good job with this movie. Jeremy Renner fits his role perfectly but I'm not sure about Blake Lively, I think she lacked something in her portrayal, I think she should've been bolder. The story is clever. The movie wasn't nerve-wracking or anything but it's good enough, enough to make its viewers care about the characters and root for their happy ending. 

Black Swan

A ballerina destroyed in her pursuit of perfection.

Nina, a girl who breathes and lives ballet, won the lead in "Swan Lake." She was perfect as the delicate White Swan but she lacks the sensuality of the Black Swan. In her pursuit to prove she can play both perfectly, she gets in touch with her dark side that threatens to destroy her sanity and all she is. 

I admit that all I ever know about Swan Lake before watching this movie is what I haveseen in the cartoons. Black Swan gave me the go-ahead-google-it feeling and so I did. Turns out Swan Lake is considered one of the greatest classical ballets of all time, by all time I mean more than a hundred years, so it must be a really big deal or honor for someone to play the Swan Queen. Now I get it.

The movie is beautiful in a strange way. It's dreamy and consuming. The rivalry and the twists were intense. Natalie Portman's portrayal of Nina is superb. She deserves every bit of her Best Actress Award. 

Easy A

Let's not and say we did. ;)

A little white lie can go overboard, darling. 

Easy A is about Olive, a high school student who used lies and the rumor mill to up her social and financial standing. Next thing she knew her life is shooting parallel to Hester of The Scarlet Letter.Well, she was just trying to help until everything got messed up.

 I started the movie with a very low expectation of what I'm about to see. I was actually surprised I had fun watching it. It's funny and quirky. Emma Stone's portrayal was so good it made me want to believe Olive is real. 

A is for awesome!

Whip it

Drew Barrymore made her debut in film directing with Whip It and I must say it's not that bad, it's actually okay. The movie stars Ellen Page who I think is perfect for the role, her sweet but tough kick ass look gave justice to Bliss Cavendar. Whip it tells the story of Bliss, a teenage girl from Texas whose mother pushes her to beauty pageants (which she doesn't like but very good at), her gradual rebellion and how she found herself and her real calling in the world of roller-derby.

The movie is predictable but it was an enjoyable flick. It's light with melodrama so it's likeable. It's one of those movies one would want to watch for good, clean fun.

The Dark Night

 

The Villain, The Dark Knight and The White Knight

Directed by Christopher Nolan starring Christian Bale, 

Heath Leadger and Aaron Eckheart.

I WAS not a batman fan, but I am now a Batman fan. Thank you Mr. Nolan!

I used to believe that superhero movies are dumb and all the same, 

this movie changed my mind. It got me blown away. 

I haven't watched Batman Begins yet but I'll make sure I'll see it real soon!

I am in love with this movie bigtime! I still can't get over everything. 

Its got the perfect mix of action and drama. 

The movie is remarkable! It is perfect! It is mesmerizing! 

I won't/can't forget Heath's performance above all, it was ridiculously amazing!

Heath Ledger + Christian Bale + Aaron Eckheart + Morgan Freeman + Michael Caine = bomb!

Quotations:

The Joker: Oh, you. You just couldn't let me go, could you? This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. You are truly incorruptible, aren't you? Huh? You won't kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness. And I won't kill you because you're just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever.
Badman: You'll be in a padded cell forever.
The Joker: Maybe we can share one. You know, they'll be doubling up, the rate this city's inhabitants are losing their minds.
Batman: This city just showed you that it's full of people ready to believe in good.
The Joker: Until their spirit breaks completely. Until they get a good look at the real Harvey Dent and all the heroic things he's done. You didn't think I'd risk losing the battle for Gotham's soul in a fistfight with you? No. You need an ace in the hole. Mine's Harvey.
Batman: What did you do?
The Joker: I took Gotham's white knight and I brought him down to our level. It wasn't hard. You see, madness, as you know, is like gravity. All it takes is a little push!

Harvey Dent: You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

Harvey Dent: The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming. 

Batman: What happened to Rachel wasn't chance. We decided to act! We three!  

Two-face: Then why was it me who was the only one who lost everything?  

Batman: It wasn't.
Two-face: The Joker chose ME!
Batman: Because you were the best of us! He wanted to prove that even someone as good as you could fall.
Two-face: [bitter] And he was right.