Now THAT's what I call Love!

My best friend, who just so happens to have an excellent taste in movies, told me the other day that I should watch Crazy Love--a Belgium film from 1987 by director Dominique Deruddere.

The movie centers around a boy named Harry Voss at three different points in his life. It starts out showing him in a movie theater as a boy, he has this romanticized idea of love and his friend teaches him that it's really only about sex. It shows how awkward a 12-year-old boy can be when learning about sex and about his body. In a way though it leaves you grinning, thinking the boy is so naive and innocent that it's hard not to think he's adorable. The movie then switches to his High school graduation, this is a completely different feel from his 12-year-old self... He has boils all over his body, his face--people cannot bare to look at him, women cannot stand to touch him. You feel so much despair for him but cannot help but look. This is the point in his life when he begins to descend down a dark path, which leads us to his early 30's. I won't go into too much detail about his 30's except to say that this is where the film gets its name. He had fallen in love with a beautiful maiden when he was 18-years-old, now he meets her again--only it's not the way everyone was wishing for. The movie has a very bittersweet ending. In the end I didn't know whether to smile or to cry, so I did a bit of both. This is definitely a film I will watch again, maybe one of those you watch every other year or once every few years. But it beats the pants off of Titanic, that's for damn sure.
I would have to rate Crazy Love 9/10! You can get your copy at Mondo Macabro as well as some other really awesome films!

Simply Brilliant.

I have no words to describe how utterly brilliant Albert Nobbs with Glenn Close is. This is a period drama set in Ireland around the turn of the century when jobs were hard to come by and money even harder to come by. If we thought life was bad here in the Americas we were in denial about how much worse things could get in other countries. I do not want to spoil this movie for you--however I will state that this has got to be one of the greatest movies ever created. Ever. Period. End of discussion. The story, the costumes, the acting, everything... Was impeccable. Flawless. The movie will leave you speechless and possibly in tears. My personal opinion of Albert Nobbs is a well deserved 10/10!

London, Scotland, Yemen... Let's fish!

I know it's been a while since I've given a proper review and for that I apologize--however, today I bring you a movie that moved me so much, possibly because of the personal connection to the main character. I bring you my review of Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, it has been quite a while since I have seen such a film that would move me to pay total and complete attention to the movie and to move me to tears; not out of sadness but out of joy. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is the story of a man who has Asperger's Syndrome--an Autism range disorder characterized by high functioning individuals who tend to be incredibly intelligent especially in one field or subject, who are very loving deep down but may come off as uncaring and cold or distant--the character is a fisherman and a scientist, as Faith is not something you can really teach or that a person with Asperger's can really grasp. A Sheik employs him and an assistant to bring fishing to the Yemen, but really to bring Faith to his people. I don't want to get into more of the synopsis than that, needless to say I was deeply moved by the movie--not just for personal reasons (I have personal experience with Asperger's Syndrome thus why I understand it and enjoy when I see characters in movies THRIVING even when presented with a "disability" or disorder). Salmon Fishing in the Yemen has some pretty witty one liners in it and scenes that had me giggling like a little school girl, grinning like an idiot, and feeling a real connection the characters, especially the Sheik, you can't help but love his character. All in all I'm going to have to say that Salmon Fishing in the Yemen deserves a 9/10! Pick up your copy, Tuesday July 17, 2012. I know I will be picking myself up a nice Blu-ray copy to add to my collection. Till Next Time!

It's my only wish...

So I finally got around to watching One Day last night. I have rented the movie at least three times never once even putting it into the PS3 but finally I saw it on HBO On Demand and decided why not. I was having a good day, why not a romance movie? One Day was why I don't do romance. I give the movie a 7/10 overall.
 
One Day is the story of two friends who meet in the late '80's and stay friends over twenty years, their relationship evolving and changing in complexity as they, themselves grow and change. The movie takes place on the same day each year, July 15th YY, which I found very refreshing. I love stories that mix up the time line or do something different than the day to day time events. The characters are both loveable and annoying in their own ways. Em (Anne Hathaway) is this shy little poet who is rather poor and can't seem to really speak up for herself in the beginning of the movie, Dex (Jim Sturgess) on the other hand is the exact opposite, which plays on the whole opposites attract theory. The movie was funny, clever, and heart warming but leaves you feeling alone and broken just as the characters feel. It's definitely worth seeing in my opinion but I recommend having a batch of chocolates and a box of Kleenex handy when you watch it. Maybe some vodka, just in case.