A general announcement page for Bob's Spring 2012 Writing 109F class.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Opening paragraph
As discussed in class, please post your first paragraph here by 9 pm. Be sure to include your name in the comment post. Thanks!
20 comments:
Patrick Lataitis
said...
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) is a movie hatched in the mind of lead actor Jason Segel. The film offers the viewer a little bit of everything – hilarity, drama, romance, believable acting, a beautiful setting, and more. The label ‘romantic comedy’ can simply not do this movie justice, as the comedic aspect of this film is brash, outlandish, and just a little to in-your-face for the viewer to compare to the romantic aspect. So what, in particular, makes this film so memorable? To take a holistic approach in evaluating this film, its strength lies in its acting, character development, situational humor, individuality, and, for lack of a better word, its characteristic ridiculousness. It is for these reasons that Forgetting Sarah Marshall is one of the more underrated and unforgettable comedies of the past several years.
Very rarely is there a movie that can combine the modern humor of a movie like Knocked Up with the excitement of a Hollywood action movie, but Pineapple Express does exactly that. It has an excellent script written by Seth Rogen, and Evan Goldberg, with story by Judd Apatow who is known for other movies of this genre such as Knocked Up and 40 Year Old Virgin. In addition, a stellar acting performance by the whole cast hurls you into a hilarious world of danger and intrigue full of seat gripping thrills complete with gunshots, explosions, and high speed car chases through the streets of Los Angeles. All of this combined creates a well-rounded movie that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
A master plan to rob one of the biggest casino vaults in Las Vegas without getting shot, arrested, or even noticed by anyone during Vegas nightlife? Realistic or not, who wouldn’t want to see this heist pulled off. Director Steven Soderbergh has assembled the perfect cast of misfit intellects in this new adaptation of Ocean's 11, each with their own specialties to convince the audience they have the skillset and guts to actually steal $160 million from a casino tycoon. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, and the rest of the eleven money-hungry bachelors insert hilarious comedic banter into a suspenseful heist film, producing a highly detailed series of events that is thoroughly funny and entertaining to watch.
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003), directed by Peter Jackson, winning 11 Academy Awards is an epic fantasy adventure film that is based on J.R.R Tolkien’s trilogy. In the fictional world of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King follows Frodo, acted by Elijah Wood, and the rest of the Fellowship on a journey to destroy the One Ring. Fantastic performances from Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn), Ian McKellen (Gandalf), John Rhys-Davies (Gimli), Orlando Bloom (Legolas), and many more battle armies of orcs at the Pelennor Fields, Minas Tirith, and the Black Gates of Sauron to give Frodo the chance to destroy the One Ring. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King along with the other two films: The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers will be one of the best trilogies of all time.
Lustily gawking at his mirror image on several occasions throughout the film, Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), a recklessly narcissistic and voyeuristically murderous 1980’s Wall Street investor, uncannily resembles the egocentric infant of Jacques Lacan’s mirror stage theory. For those of you who haven’t had a chance to polish up on your psychoanalytic philosophy recently, it was the eminent French psychoanalyst’s belief that when an infant first sees itself in a mirror it begins to be able to identify itself as a distinct entity, as “I”. The problem is that the child’s initial conception of itself doesn’t contain his/her various imperfections and weaknesses (lack of coordination, etc.). This invariably results in the formation of an idealized version of one’s self which the child constantly attempts to become for the rest of his/her existence. For Lacan, the child’s identity construction is based on the relation to this other, perfect being which is imaginary in the first place. Having these notions in mind while watching American Psycho, one can’t help but picture Patrick Bateman as a product of and walking billboard for American materialism, doomed from the start to an endless and destructive search for identification with a self that cannot exist.
At first glance, Bridesmaids may seem like just another chick flick comedy. However, Bridesmaids is no ordinary chick flick. Some of the most hilarious women of comedy star in this brilliantly funny film that has won both a Critics Choice Award as well as a People’s Choice Award for best comedy movie along with countless other nominations. Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Wendy McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, and Rose Byrne all star in this uproarious comedy. Despite all the crazy situations these women get into, the actions, feelings, and jokes are ultimately ones that many, if not all, women can relate to. Writers Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo did not shy away from the, at times, crude yet on-point humor that is usually only present in “bromedies”. Thus, the film has the ability to truly connect with the viewers, specifically women. The film is about Annie (Wiig), whose best friend, Lillian (Rudolph), is getting married. As the maid of honor, Annie has the duties of organizing the bachelorette party, the food for the wedding, and the bridal shower. Annie soon realizes that organizing these events is more difficult than she expected, and comes with one disaster after another. In addition, she has to deal with Helen (Byrne), one of Lillian’s bridesmaids, who competes with Annie to take control over the wedding plans in order to prove she is Lillian’s best friend. The ordeals that these women go through are disastrously hilarious, but the film also finds a way to evoke a serious tone and a real vibe that makes the film more than just a silly comedy.
Sometimes love is not always enough. A refreshingly honest movie, Blue Valentine, directed by Derek Cianfrance, is a story about the relationship between Dean Pereira (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy Heller Pereira (Michelle Williams) and how love has the tendency to be a victim of time. The movie fluctuates back and forth between two different periods in the couple’s life. Beginning in the present, Dean and Cindy appear to be in their early thirties while their relationship seems to be approaching its finale. Skipping back in time, the viewer meets the couple in their early twenties, and watches as the characters fall in love. Toggling between these two time frames the viewer gains a deeper understanding of the lives of the characters but is still left to wonder what happened during those middle years. The truthfulness of this film can be brutal, but it is also what makes Blue Valentine one of the best dramas of the decade.
After promising a sequel to the original ground breaking film Tron, Disney finally delivered what many have been waiting almost thirty years for. Tron: Legacy, the sequel to the 1982 Disney film Tron, calls to all of the little kids inside of us depicting a cyber world in which video gaming becomes a reality. Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski) plays the part of Kevin Flynn, a leading software engineer who suddenly vanishes from Earth. After twenty years, his son Sam, played by up and coming actor Garrett Hedlund, searches through his father’s old office and accidentally zaps himself into the virtual world created by his father. This science fiction film takes us on a thrilling adventure through a cyber world that has been corrupted by a program created by, and after the creator himself.
David (Toby Maguire) and his twin sister Jennifer (Reese Witherspoon)are your average 1990's high schoolers. David the socially awkward T.V. nerd and Jennifer the attention hungry socialite. One night while battling over the viewing rights to their shared T.V., the comfort of the 1990's is lost. The two are transormed into David's favorite T.V. show, Pleasantville. Pleasantville represents the hyper-idealized image of the 1950's. The film deals with their attempted conformity into a society distant from their own. What ensues is an entertaining clash of generations while also cleverly depicting the 1950's through a contemporary lense.
With so many different adaptations of Jane Austen’s novel Pride & Prejudice, it can seem a bit redundant to create yet another version. However, Joe Wright’s first film brings new light to a classic novel. The traditional costumes, stunning English countryside and beautiful soundtrack by Dario Marianelli recreate the iconic world of eighteenth century England. Paired with Keira Knightley’s feisty portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew Macfadyen’s interpretation of the proud Mr. Darcy, Focus Features and Universal Pictures have created a stunning version of Jane Austen’s masterpiece.
The slaughter of children has never been as celebrated as it is during The Hunger Games. Gary Ross’ film adaption of Suzanne Collins’ 2008 New York times best seller is a mega hit as it is the number one movie in the world for four weeks straight. The millions of people that have seen the film will vouch that the film is outstanding. Ross tries to keep the film as truthful to the book as possible. The film ends up being a want to be action movie that is riddled with plot holes. Hollywood may love the hype of the movie but that does not necessarily make it a groundbreaking film.
All of the best people in the world are mad, and who better to direct an adventure-fantasy film than Tim Burton? He adds his signature dark twist to the story of Alice in Wonderland. The film is inspired by the books Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass written by Lewis Carroll. Known for his dark and eerie style, Burton works with long time collaborators Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter to tell the story of Alice's return to Wonderland. However, in this film the fantasy world is known as Underland. This is only one of the many changes Burton presents which may be unsettling to long-time lovers of the classic. The film's incredible use of computer animation and costume design cannot make up for its weaknesses in script and in acting. Despite its potential for greatness, this 2010 rendition has lost its "muchness" compared to other films directed by Tim Burton.
Like a finely hand chiseled model of a town, Science fiction film Moon (2009) is a refreshing, scaled down film distant from the standard action packed movies that have dominated this genre. BAFTA award for outstanding directorial debut winner Duncan Jones, gives us a psychological case study of Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) as he must come to grips with Sam Bell and himself. In a larger scope, Moon tries to look forward to the ethics of unfolding sciences, however this message is far less potent than the rest of the film. Moon’s world delves into a technological world like an updated Space Odyssey, but with a coherent focus on Sam Rockwell’s multispectral performance.
As the title might suggest, Martha Marcy May Marlene tells the story of a young woman’s struggle with her own identity as an oscillation of reality and her abusive past. Elizabeth Olsen’s debut role as the film’s protagonist does not disappoint as she delivers the emotional extremities one would expect from such a conflicted character, and director and screenwriter, Sean Durkin, exceeds expectations for his first feature length film. As we are intermittently propelled back and forth between Martha’s life in a heinous cult and her present life with her sister and brother-in-law, there is something to be learned about social impacts on mental well-being. Martha Marcy May Marlene is not only entertaining, but eerie and thought-provoking, giving insight to the afflicted and brainwashed adolescent mind.
Today, Facebook is the most popular social network on the planet, but only a few years ago, it was nothing more than a few lines of code written in a Harvard dorm room. The Social Network (2010) traces the history of Facebook, from its beginnings up to the explosive confrontation that tore its founders apart, but this film is much more than a simple history - it's a look into the mind of a generation. Aaron Sorkin and David Fincher have produced a powerhouse of a movie that is, at its heart, about the friendship between two young men, and the way their successes destroyed that bond.
Not to be confused with "Bad Boys" (1995) starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, "Bad Boys," (1983) tells the story of some Chicago gang kids who get locked up in the juvenile correction facility, and end up fighting to the death in a long awaited showdown. The film features Sean Penn who plays Mick O'Brien, an Irish American teen hood who rivals Paco Moreno, a Latino hood, played by Esai Morales. This film exhibits a brutally realistic shot of youth gang life that is brought to life by the outstanding and convincing performances of Penn, Morales, and the other supporting actors.
“I have a competition in me. I want no one else to succeed.” So says Daniel Plainview, fictional oil tycoon in Paul Thomas Anderson’s sweeping epic There Will Be Blood. The movie follows Plainview - a character not so much acted as inhabited by Daniel Day-Lewis – on his path to success, and chronicles brilliantly the life of a man driven by ambition. While perhaps slow at times, There Will Be Blood is so staunchly realistic and well planned that Anderson and Day-Lewis manage to craft an utterly engrossing film.
There have been plenty of films about teachers and their students. There is "To Sir With Love", "Stand and Deliver", and countless others that tackle the concept of a teacher working to inspire a group of students who are living in less than stellar conditions. "Half Nelson" draws its influence from those previous films,while remaining uniquely it's own. There is a teacher, students, and inner city struggles. In "Half Nelson", the teacher is addicted to crack, the neighborhood drug dealer seems like a nice enough guy, and the students aren't the focus of the narrative. "Half Nelson" breathes new life into the topics of education, inner city struggles, and more by it's unconventional characters. The acting, and the narrative work together in an intersting way to explore the important social issues around the institution of education.
Remember back in high school when the biggest concern was not the math test scheduled for Monday, but how to acquire that liquid courage for the party on Friday night? That is precisely the dilemma for Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) in Superbad. Written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (on whom the main characters are based) while they were in high school in the late 1990s, the film is authentic in its depiction of modern youth, and its awkwardness provides non-stop laughs throughout. With the help of producer Judd Apatow (director, producer, and writer of The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up), the real dynamic duo has created comedy gold, the Dazed and Confused of our generation.
What begins as a hopeful desire for success becomes evermore unlikely as complications between three bosses and their employees evolve in Seth Gordon's Horrible Bosses (2011). Though it does not take a critical opinion to decipher the vulgarity of this film, the resulting comical relief that arises ultimately binds the viewer between male condemnation and pure hilarity. The crude, coarse, yet clever portrayal of three best friends, Nick Hendricks (Jason Bateman), Dale Arbus (Charlie Day), and Kurt Buckman (Jason Sudeikis) nicely supplements the harsh and unusual demands of their respective bosses, Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey), Dr. Julia Harris, D.D.S. (Jennifer Aniston), and Bobby Pellitt (Colin Farrell). In an attempt to rid themselves of the work-related misery that looms over their daily lives, Nick, Dale, and Kurt plan an incoherent and evasive plan to kill their bosses and rejuvenate their lives, free of unfair demands and inexplicable consequences.
20 comments:
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) is a movie hatched in the mind of lead actor Jason Segel. The film offers the viewer a little bit of everything – hilarity, drama, romance, believable acting, a beautiful setting, and more. The label ‘romantic comedy’ can simply not do this movie justice, as the comedic aspect of this film is brash, outlandish, and just a little to in-your-face for the viewer to compare to the romantic aspect. So what, in particular, makes this film so memorable? To take a holistic approach in evaluating this film, its strength lies in its acting, character development, situational humor, individuality, and, for lack of a better word, its characteristic ridiculousness. It is for these reasons that Forgetting Sarah Marshall is one of the more underrated and unforgettable comedies of the past several years.
Very rarely is there a movie that can combine the modern humor of a movie like Knocked Up with the excitement of a Hollywood action movie, but Pineapple Express does exactly that. It has an excellent script written by Seth Rogen, and Evan Goldberg, with story by Judd Apatow who is known for other movies of this genre such as Knocked Up and 40 Year Old Virgin. In addition, a stellar acting performance by the whole cast hurls you into a hilarious world of danger and intrigue full of seat gripping thrills complete with gunshots, explosions, and high speed car chases through the streets of Los Angeles. All of this combined creates a well-rounded movie that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
Jennifer Lande-Ocean's 11
A master plan to rob one of the biggest casino vaults in Las Vegas without getting shot, arrested, or even noticed by anyone during Vegas nightlife? Realistic or not, who wouldn’t want to see this heist pulled off. Director Steven Soderbergh has assembled the perfect cast of misfit intellects in this new adaptation of Ocean's 11, each with their own specialties to convince the audience they have the skillset and guts to actually steal $160 million from a casino tycoon. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, and the rest of the eleven money-hungry bachelors insert hilarious comedic banter into a suspenseful heist film, producing a highly detailed series of events that is thoroughly funny and entertaining to watch.
Jacob Davis
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003), directed by Peter Jackson, winning 11 Academy Awards is an epic fantasy adventure film that is based on J.R.R Tolkien’s trilogy. In the fictional world of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King follows Frodo, acted by Elijah Wood, and the rest of the Fellowship on a journey to destroy the One Ring. Fantastic performances from Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn), Ian McKellen (Gandalf), John Rhys-Davies (Gimli), Orlando Bloom (Legolas), and many more battle armies of orcs at the Pelennor Fields, Minas Tirith, and the Black Gates of Sauron to give Frodo the chance to destroy the One Ring. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King along with the other two films: The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers will be one of the best trilogies of all time.
Lustily gawking at his mirror image on several occasions throughout the film, Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), a recklessly narcissistic and voyeuristically murderous 1980’s Wall Street investor, uncannily resembles the egocentric infant of Jacques Lacan’s mirror stage theory. For those of you who haven’t had a chance to polish up on your psychoanalytic philosophy recently, it was the eminent French psychoanalyst’s belief that when an infant first sees itself in a mirror it begins to be able to identify itself as a distinct entity, as “I”. The problem is that the child’s initial conception of itself doesn’t contain his/her various imperfections and weaknesses (lack of coordination, etc.). This invariably results in the formation of an idealized version of one’s self which the child constantly attempts to become for the rest of his/her existence. For Lacan, the child’s identity construction is based on the relation to this other, perfect being which is imaginary in the first place. Having these notions in mind while watching American Psycho, one can’t help but picture Patrick Bateman as a product of and walking billboard for American materialism, doomed from the start to an endless and destructive search for identification with a self that cannot exist.
At first glance, Bridesmaids may seem like just another chick flick comedy. However, Bridesmaids is no ordinary chick flick. Some of the most hilarious women of comedy star in this brilliantly funny film that has won both a Critics Choice Award as well as a People’s Choice Award for best comedy movie along with countless other nominations. Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Wendy McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, and Rose Byrne all star in this uproarious comedy. Despite all the crazy situations these women get into, the actions, feelings, and jokes are ultimately ones that many, if not all, women can relate to. Writers Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo did not shy away from the, at times, crude yet on-point humor that is usually only present in “bromedies”. Thus, the film has the ability to truly connect with the viewers, specifically women. The film is about Annie (Wiig), whose best friend, Lillian (Rudolph), is getting married. As the maid of honor, Annie has the duties of organizing the bachelorette party, the food for the wedding, and the bridal shower. Annie soon realizes that organizing these events is more difficult than she expected, and comes with one disaster after another. In addition, she has to deal with Helen (Byrne), one of Lillian’s bridesmaids, who competes with Annie to take control over the wedding plans in order to prove she is Lillian’s best friend. The ordeals that these women go through are disastrously hilarious, but the film also finds a way to evoke a serious tone and a real vibe that makes the film more than just a silly comedy.
Matt Carona
Sometimes love is not always enough. A refreshingly honest movie, Blue Valentine, directed by Derek Cianfrance, is a story about the relationship between Dean Pereira (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy Heller Pereira (Michelle Williams) and how love has the tendency to be a victim of time. The movie fluctuates back and forth between two different periods in the couple’s life. Beginning in the present, Dean and Cindy appear to be in their early thirties while their relationship seems to be approaching its finale. Skipping back in time, the viewer meets the couple in their early twenties, and watches as the characters fall in love. Toggling between these two time frames the viewer gains a deeper understanding of the lives of the characters but is still left to wonder what happened during those middle years. The truthfulness of this film can be brutal, but it is also what makes Blue Valentine one of the best dramas of the decade.
After promising a sequel to the original ground breaking film Tron, Disney finally delivered what many have been waiting almost thirty years for. Tron: Legacy, the sequel to the 1982 Disney film Tron, calls to all of the little kids inside of us depicting a cyber world in which video gaming becomes a reality. Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski) plays the part of Kevin Flynn, a leading software engineer who suddenly vanishes from Earth. After twenty years, his son Sam, played by up and coming actor Garrett Hedlund, searches through his father’s old office and accidentally zaps himself into the virtual world created by his father. This science fiction film takes us on a thrilling adventure through a cyber world that has been corrupted by a program created by, and after the creator himself.
Sam Einstein
David (Toby Maguire) and his twin sister Jennifer (Reese Witherspoon)are your average 1990's high schoolers. David the socially awkward T.V. nerd and Jennifer the attention hungry socialite. One night while battling over the viewing rights to their shared T.V., the comfort of the 1990's is lost. The two are transormed into David's favorite T.V. show, Pleasantville. Pleasantville represents the hyper-idealized image of the 1950's. The film deals with their attempted conformity into a society distant from their own. What ensues is an entertaining clash of generations while also cleverly depicting the 1950's through a contemporary lense.
With so many different adaptations of Jane Austen’s novel Pride & Prejudice, it can seem a bit redundant to create yet another version. However, Joe Wright’s first film brings new light to a classic novel. The traditional costumes, stunning English countryside and beautiful soundtrack by Dario Marianelli recreate the iconic world of eighteenth century England. Paired with Keira Knightley’s feisty portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew Macfadyen’s interpretation of the proud Mr. Darcy, Focus Features and Universal Pictures have created a stunning version of Jane Austen’s masterpiece.
The slaughter of children has never been as celebrated as it is during The Hunger Games. Gary Ross’ film adaption of Suzanne Collins’ 2008 New York times best seller is a mega hit as it is the number one movie in the world for four weeks straight. The millions of people that have seen the film will vouch that the film is outstanding. Ross tries to keep the film as truthful to the book as possible. The film ends up being a want to be action movie that is riddled with plot holes. Hollywood may love the hype of the movie but that does not necessarily make it a groundbreaking film.
All of the best people in the world are mad, and who better to direct an adventure-fantasy film than Tim Burton? He adds his signature dark twist to the story of Alice in Wonderland. The film is inspired by the books Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass written by Lewis Carroll. Known for his dark and eerie style, Burton works with long time collaborators Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter to tell the story of Alice's return to Wonderland. However, in this film the fantasy world is known as Underland. This is only one of the many changes Burton presents which may be unsettling to long-time lovers of the classic. The film's incredible use of computer animation and costume design cannot make up for its weaknesses in script and in acting. Despite its potential for greatness, this 2010 rendition has lost its "muchness" compared to other films directed by Tim Burton.
Like a finely hand chiseled model of a town, Science fiction film Moon (2009) is a refreshing, scaled down film distant from the standard action packed movies that have dominated this genre. BAFTA award for outstanding directorial debut winner Duncan Jones, gives us a psychological case study of Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) as he must come to grips with Sam Bell and himself. In a larger scope, Moon tries to look forward to the ethics of unfolding sciences, however this message is far less potent than the rest of the film. Moon’s world delves into a technological world like an updated Space Odyssey, but with a coherent focus on Sam Rockwell’s multispectral performance.
As the title might suggest, Martha Marcy May Marlene tells the story of a young woman’s struggle with her own identity as an oscillation of reality and her abusive past. Elizabeth Olsen’s debut role as the film’s protagonist does not disappoint as she delivers the emotional extremities one would expect from such a conflicted character, and director and screenwriter, Sean Durkin, exceeds expectations for his first feature length film. As we are intermittently propelled back and forth between Martha’s life in a heinous cult and her present life with her sister and brother-in-law, there is something to be learned about social impacts on mental well-being. Martha Marcy May Marlene is not only entertaining, but eerie and thought-provoking, giving insight to the afflicted and brainwashed adolescent mind.
Today, Facebook is the most popular social network on the planet, but only a few years ago, it was nothing more than a few lines of code written in a Harvard dorm room. The Social Network (2010) traces the history of Facebook, from its beginnings up to the explosive confrontation that tore its founders apart, but this film is much more than a simple history - it's a look into the mind of a generation. Aaron Sorkin and David Fincher have produced a powerhouse of a movie that is, at its heart, about the friendship between two young men, and the way their successes destroyed that bond.
Sarah Peralta
Not to be confused with "Bad Boys" (1995) starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, "Bad Boys," (1983) tells the story of some Chicago gang kids who get locked up in the juvenile correction facility, and end up fighting to the death in a long awaited showdown. The film features Sean Penn who plays Mick O'Brien, an Irish American teen hood who rivals Paco Moreno, a Latino hood, played by Esai Morales. This film exhibits a brutally realistic shot of youth gang life that is brought to life by the outstanding and convincing performances of Penn, Morales, and the other supporting actors.
“I have a competition in me. I want no one else to succeed.” So says Daniel Plainview, fictional oil tycoon in Paul Thomas Anderson’s sweeping epic There Will Be Blood. The movie follows Plainview - a character not so much acted as inhabited by Daniel Day-Lewis – on his path to success, and chronicles brilliantly the life of a man driven by ambition. While perhaps slow at times, There Will Be Blood is so staunchly realistic and well planned that Anderson and Day-Lewis manage to craft an utterly engrossing film.
Caitlin Gonzalez
There have been plenty of films about teachers and their students. There is "To Sir With Love", "Stand and Deliver", and countless others that tackle the concept of a teacher working to inspire a group of students who are living in less than stellar conditions. "Half Nelson" draws its influence from those previous films,while remaining uniquely it's own. There is a teacher, students, and inner city struggles. In "Half Nelson", the teacher is addicted to crack, the neighborhood drug dealer seems like a nice enough guy, and the students aren't the focus of the narrative. "Half Nelson" breathes new life into the topics of education, inner city struggles, and more by it's unconventional characters. The acting, and the narrative work together in an intersting way to explore the important social issues around the institution of education.
Remember back in high school when the biggest concern was not the math test scheduled for Monday, but how to acquire that liquid courage for the party on Friday night? That is precisely the dilemma for Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) in Superbad. Written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (on whom the main characters are based) while they were in high school in the late 1990s, the film is authentic in its depiction of modern youth, and its awkwardness provides non-stop laughs throughout. With the help of producer Judd Apatow (director, producer, and writer of The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up), the real dynamic duo has created comedy gold, the Dazed and Confused of our generation.
What begins as a hopeful desire for success becomes evermore unlikely as complications between three bosses and their employees evolve in Seth Gordon's Horrible Bosses (2011). Though it does not take a critical opinion to decipher the vulgarity of this film, the resulting comical relief that arises ultimately binds the viewer between male condemnation and pure hilarity. The crude, coarse, yet clever portrayal of three best friends, Nick Hendricks (Jason Bateman), Dale Arbus (Charlie Day), and Kurt Buckman (Jason Sudeikis) nicely supplements the harsh and unusual demands of their respective bosses, Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey), Dr. Julia Harris, D.D.S. (Jennifer Aniston), and Bobby Pellitt (Colin Farrell). In an attempt to rid themselves of the work-related misery that looms over their daily lives, Nick, Dale, and Kurt plan an incoherent and evasive plan to kill their bosses and rejuvenate their lives, free of unfair demands and inexplicable consequences.
Horrible Bosses
Lauren Radonich
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