Wristcutters: A Love Story

My Rating

(out of 5 envelopes):

MPAA Rating: R

Runtime: 88 minutes

Genre: Indie, Comedy, Romantic Comedy

I can’t remember where I heard about this movie, but I’m glad I put it in my queue. This movie turned out to be one of the most original romantic comedies I’ve ever seen…and it’s actually funny.

When Zia(Patrick Fugit) decides to commit suicide(by cutting his wrists as the title suggests) after his girlfriend Desiree breaks up with him, he ends up in another world of despotism and sorrow, one populated by everyone else who has committed suicide. When Zia hears that Desiree(Leslie Bibb) has also committed suicide and is now a part of this universe, he goes on a mission to track her down with a Russian musician named Eugene (this character is based on Eugene Hutz of Gogol Bordello). When on their journey, they pick up Mikal(Shannyn Sossamon), a hitchhiker who is searching for the people in charge because she says doesn’t belong in this world. Tom Waits and Will Arnett also stars in this film.

This movie ended up being one of the most charming films I’ve seen in a while. I love the idea of a world where all people who committed suicide go because I never contemplated anything like that before. The way it was executed was great, too. Some of my favorite things were just the subtle, quirky little jokes. For starters, when Zia first arrives in the post-suicide world, he finds work at Kamikaze Pizza. One of my favorite lines in the film was "I'm not going out tonight. It just makes me depressed." "So, what you gonna do? Kill yourself?"

The music in Wristcutters was great. They use Gogol Bordello’s music as the character Eugene’s band’s music. They’re great and if you have never listened to them (Gogol Bordello’s music also appears in Everything Is Illuminated as well), I recommend that you check them out.

If you have any interest in dark comedy, I would definitely check this one out. The film manages to be original, funny, and deliver.

Netflix Page for Wristcutters: A Love Story

The Orpanage

My Rating

(out of 5 envelopes):

MPAA Rating: R

Runtime: 105 minutes

Genre: Foreign, Thriller, Drama, Mystery, Suspense

Now I’m not the biggest fan of scary movies. I usually like something with a little more substance to it. The Orphanage, however, has both a good plot and the ability to freak you out.

Laura purchases the old orphanage where she spent the early years of her childhood in hope to make it into a home for disabled children. Shortly after they move into their new home, Laura’s son Simón begins to playing with his new imaginary friends. At a welcoming party, Simón suddenly vanishes. As Laura tries to get her son back, a whole new mystery about her new home unravels. Produced by Guillermo del Toro (producer, writer, and director of Pan’s Labyrinth).

This movie will leave you on the edge of your seat, it will creep you out, it will give you chills. This movie wasn’t so much scary as it is creepy for me (although there where some parts where I couldn’t look because I was too terrified to see what was going to happen). This movie uses some great techniques to evoke a response from the audience. There were parts of the film where I was cringing because I was terrified to see what was coming next.

One of the reasons for that was the suspenseful music. I think music is key in thrillers and this one definitely nailed it. The acting in this film was great; Belén Rueda (who plays Laura) was perfect for the role. The cinematography also played a huge role in the creep out factor. Even just the way the light falls into the room added to the overall eerie feeling.

The best thing about this movie was plot! It’s great to see a suspense movie made these days that had a real plot and wasn’t all about gore and unrealistic special effects. You should definitely add this to your queue if you’re looking to be creeped out but still want to enjoy a good story or if you’re a fan of old suspense films.

Neflix Page for The Orphange
This movie is also available on Watch Instantly.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

My Rating

(out of 5 envelopes):

MPAA Rating: R

Runtime: 112 minutes

Genre: Comedy, Romantic Comedy

I wasn’t quite sure when I saw this movie. This movie hadn’t been quite as hyped as every other Judd Apatow film I’ve seen. But don’t let that fool you; this movie is as hilarious as every other Apatow film.

This film is about Peter(Jason Segel) and his breakup with his TV star girlfriend Sarah Marshall(Kristen Bell). After they break up, Peter decides he needs to get away and decides to travel to Hawaii. Low and behold, who is staying at the same resort? Sarah Marshall and her new boyfriend Aldous Snow(Russell Brand), lead singer of the popular band Infant Sorrow. Now Peter must find a way to get over the breakup with Sarah Marshall .

There are so many hilarious scenes in this movie, it’s hard to pick out a favorite. One of my favorite scenes about 5 seconds of a flashback –the “you shall not pass!” moment(you’ll know when you see it)...I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes. The music in the film is also funny, but actually quite catchy at the same time. I’m not going to like, Inside You was stuck in my head after I saw this movie.

Everyone in this movie was hilarious. I never expected Kristen Bell to be as funny as she was in this movie. I thought Jason Segel was absolutely perfect in the part of Peter; he definitely knows how to pull off the sad guy thing without it being too depressing(it is a comedy after all). I had never heard of Russell Brand before this movie, but wow, casting could not have chosen someone better. He’s outrageous in real life so he fit really well with the character. Some of the best laughs came from the ridiculous things he said. Other members of the Apatow crew(Bill Hader, Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd) are also in the film.

I would highly recommend this film if you’re looking for a good laugh. Sure, it’s a predictable romantic comedy, but even if you don’t like them, you’ll be laughing too hard to notice.

Netflix Page for Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

The Band's Visit

My Rating

(out of 5 envelopes):

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 87 minutes

Genre: Foreign, Comedy, Drama

I don’t know about you, but I haven’t seen very many Israeli films, if any. Both touching and funny, this one certainly makes a good first impression.

The Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra takes a trip from Egypt to Israel in order to play at the opening of an Arabic cultural center. However, the arranged transportation fails to show. So instead they must find their own way there. The band boards a bus to a town with a similar-sounding name, and becomes stranded there. The town is in the middle of the desert and there is nowhere for the band to stay. However, the woman who owns the restaurant and then two men who occupy the tables out front of the restaurant take them in for the night.

Keep in mind, this is one of those slice of life movies, so don’t expect too much action in this one. The movies tagline says it all, “Once-not long ago-a small Egyptian police band arrived in Israel. Not many remember this...It wasn't that important.” It’s just people of one culture interacting with people of another. It’s simple, yet it shows that in every culture there is loneliness, love, loss, and joy. The characters are all realistic, complex human beings, who you get to know more of as the film goes on.

Comedy-wise, my favorite scene is when Haled, the young ladies-man of the band, accompanies one of the men he met at the restaurant, who happens to be quite awful with the ladies, to the local roller rink. His date begins to cry and he has no idea what to do. Haled decides to help him which results in a really cute and funny scene in the movie.

As far as serious moments goes, the one that stuck in my mind the most is when the band member who wrote an unfinished concerto is sitting a room with the man who he’s staying with and his child. He then gives him solemn advice on how to finish his concerto after all of these years (I don’t want to spoil it).

The music in the film was beautiful. I loved the hauntingly beautiful unfinished concerto. It went perfectly with the shots of scenery shown while it was playing. The song in the last scene was the perfect end to the film. I just wish there was more music in the film since it was so magnificent.

Netflix Page for The Band's Visit

Paris Je T'aime.

My Rating

(out of 5 envelopes):

MPAA Rating: R

Runtime: 110 minutes

Genre: Foreign, Comedy, Drama

Paris Je T’aime isn’t your typical film. The movie is divided into 18 vignettes about five minutes in length, each with a different director, set in a different part of Paris. Every vignette is about love. And you feel it through the entire movie.

That said, some of these stories are amazing, some of them mediocre, and some...well, bad. However, there are considerably more good than bad.

My Top 3 Vignettes (in order they appear in the film):

Le Marais

Director: Gus Van Sant

This vignette is about a teenage French boy who walks enters a print shop. He has a gut feeling that one of the workers is his soul mate and he tries to explain how he feels.

You know that feeling when you meet someone you’ve never met before, but you feel like you’re inexplicably connected? Well, this vignette totally captures that feeling, which is why I love it so much.

Faubourg Saint-Denis

Director: Tom Tykwer

A blind college student receives a call from his girlfriend who breaks up with him. He reminisces about their relationship from the moment they met to the present.

This is a lot better than it sounds. This is probably my favorite story in the movie. Natalie Portman plays the girlfriend and is absolutely wonderful in the role. This story ends up being an incredibly touching 5 minutes.

14e arrondissement

Director: Alexander Payne

In this vignette, a mail carrier from the US recounts her long awaited trip to Paris. She comes to the city alone and remains alone through the entire trip. But in the end she ends up falling in love with Paris.

This was the perfect story to place at the end of the movie. This story is funny and meaningful. I felt like I, too, had fallen in love with Paris by the end of this film.

My Least Favorite Vignette:

Porte de Choisy

Director: Christopher Doyle

A beauty product salesman makes a visit to Chinatown to try to sell his goods in this story. I honestly didn’t fully understand what was happening in this one. I didn’t get where the whole love part was supposed to come into play. I think that this was the only vignette I didn’t like.

Overall, I thought the film was beautiful. The mishmash of directors and writers shows just how multifaceted love really is and what it means to other people.

Netflix Page for Paris Je T'aime
This film is also available on Watch Instantly.

If you enjoyed this movie, they’re coming out with another movie like this called New York, I Love You. See the trailer here .