Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011) - Drama/Mystery

Rating: 8/10

Summary: After Oskar (Thomas Horn) loses his father after the attack on the world trade center on 9/11, he finds a hidden key and goes on a journey to find who is belongs to.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is a heartbreaking film that follows Oskar Schell on his journey to self discovery and he owner of the mysterious key he finds. Though the film got a little slow in the middle it did not take too much away from the rest of it. This film is one that pulls at the heart strings and brings on tears multiple times throughout it's entirety. Oskar's journey is not so much one that

searches for the owner of the key, but a journey of understanding. After the death of his father he is lost, and lonely without the company of his best friend and the only person in the world that really understood him. In the end it's clear he didn't really care about the key, he just wanted answers to why his father had to die, which is what is so terribly gut wrenching about this film. It's about a child who so badly wants to understand but can't; because there are somethings that don't make sense.

Thomas did brilliantly for such a young actor. His performance was sensational, he played the oddball child perfectly and in the more emotional and serious scenes he became mature behind his years. More

importantly he was believable. For once I didn't find myself thinking, "Well he's good for his age," he was amazing in general. This is even more impressive considering he was placed next to incredible and award winning actors; Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Viola Davis etc. Thomas moved me to tears and had me feeling for him which is incredible for an actor of his age.

There is not much more to say about the film except that I very much recommend this to everyone. It's (for the most part) a family film, with some very important themes I think are important for children to learn. It's also very much a tear jerker so bring tissues and a blanket, make sure you have a buddy with you as well because watching this alone is extremely difficult (take it from me I needed about a million hugs after this film). Overall I thought it was a wonderful movie, very entertaining, very sad, but also triumphant and heart warming, 8/10 passing grade.

Copenhagen (2014) - Comedy/Drama

Rating: 8/10

Summary: William (Gethin Anthony), a childish and destructive twenty-something year old, goes to Copenhagen looking for his estranged father. There he meets young Effy (Frederikke Dahl Hansen) who tags along and helps him on his search, teaching both of them a lesson or two about life.

Copenhagen is a hilarious, emotional, and triumphant film that reflects both youth and growing up in a beautiful way. William is grown man who, frankly, doesn't know how to behave around adults, or how to be one himself. He is immature, cocky, and juvenile, and really has no idea what he's doing. Effy is young, but mature and quick to hide her age and convince people that her birthday is soon so her age

doesn't really matter. Contrasting the two character's Effy wants to grow up for too quickly, and William is trying so hard to remain young and carefree. By the end of the film the two characters learn important lessons from each other--Effy learns it's not good to grow up too quickly and cherishing your childhood is important, whereas William learns there comes a time when we all have to grow up and it's better to go with it rather than fight it.

Gethin Anthony was devilishly charming and free spirited, yet he annoyed the hell out of me at the same time. He somehow managed to remain attractive while I sat there loathing him and his foolish personality and antics. It almost made me uncomfortable to see a grown man acting like an overgrown

eight year old. I happened to notice though, that when he did act like a fool it was when William was put in situations where he felt uncomfortable or lonely in a way. It seemed that, like a child, he would rather get negative attention than no attention. Gethin played the role of William perfectly, allowing the loneliness being his youthful eyes to come out at just the right moment, just enough for me to see how scared that man really was of growing up and facing the world, and how lonely he truly was and how terrifying that seemed to him. The most impressive part William was his ability to at last grow up and let go of the child left in him. In the end he did the right thing for once and refused to destroy anything else in his life. Gethrin was magnetic on screen and his juvenile personality was hilarious, in all he did amazingly.

Frederikke Dahl Hansen did just as well playing the girl who so baldy wanted to grow up. Effy was so insecure about her age and what people would think that she lost herself as she waited to get older. Putting her beside William it was easy to see which one of the two was more grown-up, which was extremely saddening. It was sad to see a girl so desperate to be an adult so she could finally be with a man that wasn't even himself entirely an adult. In the end it was almost a relief to finally see her accepting herself and her age, and the fact that, yes, she would grow up, but it didn't have to be right away.

This film was hilarious, and emotional, and extremely entertaining. The location and setting was incredible and gives off an adventurous and youthful vibe that goes well with the characters and their personalities. The acting is impeccable and the soundtrack is just as good. I highly recommend this film, it is entirely worth a watch. Definitely not a family film, but maybe something to watch with friends, a significant other, or even by yourself if you're up to it. This is a definite B+ movie, and a must see.

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Falling Overnight (2011) - Drama

Rating 10/10 **Diamond of a film**

Summary: The day before Elliot (Parker Croft) has to have brain surgery to remove a tumor, he meets (Chloe). Together they spend an entire night going on little adventures until it is time for Elliot to tell Chloe the truth and they are left with the question, what now?

It is very rare to find a film that physically and emotionally moves you. Falling Overnight is one of those. Before I really go into it I would like to say, this movie may not be for everyone. It is a low budget Indie movie, which I happen to be a sucker for (most of the time those turn out to be my favorites). By the end of the film I had cried about three times. Throughout the movie I felt like someone was tugging at my heart strings and I kept getting pangs in my chest, at one point I even got

butterflies. I even started to realize I was smiling through some parts. When the movie ended my hands wouldn't stop shaking and every other film I watched that night didn't even seem worth it. It is extremely rare that a movie does this to me, the last time I was effected this greatly was when I saw Her when it came out at the beginning of 2013. I am 100% when I say, this movie is a diamond in the rough.

I'd like to begin with Emilia Zoryan. I have never seen her in anything before, so I didn't know what to expect from her. Let me just say, I could not be more pleased with a performance. Emilia emanated on screen. She shined and had the most enchanting and charming personality. She made Chloe real. Chloe was no longer a character she was a person who   was vivacious, and effervescent, she was genuine. Her acting was captivating and behind the

personality I still felt like there was more, some kind of backstory to this two dimensional character. Emilia's performance was so enticing she made it seem like her character was more complex than she actually was, and that is an incredible thing, she was given something and she ran with it. I don't think anyone could be Chloe except for Emilia Zoryan, it is impossible to imagine anyone else doing a better job.

Parker Croft also was impeccable and commendable. He made me love Elliot from the beginning, this sad, lonely, sick character who may possibly have hours to live. Though Parker plays Elliot as shy and laid back behind his eyes you can see panic and the fear of someone who doesn't know what is in his future. In fact, whenever the future is mentioned you see all happiness fade from his eyes, and he loses himself for a moment. It was almost like Parker was actually in Elliot's situation and was feeling what

he had to endure. And finally in one of his final scenes he loses his cool and performs one of the most heartbreaking scenes I've ever seen. His crying and emotion is genuine, it is not just someone trying to put on a good performance, it is someone actually feeling something. In that very scene he goes from being an actor to being an artist, a human being who is in pain. His performance was moving beyond words and one of the best, I think, in film.

The actors' ability to make the dialogue believable and real make the film as amazing as it is. While watching I had to think, "There's no way any of this is scripted," because it was so real. It made the film more authentic and honest to see two people on screen that seemed like they were

having an actual conversation that average everyday people would have upon meeting. The magic of the film comes from their interaction. They have an onscreen chemistry that is so strong you can't help but feel what they are feeling for yourself. Everything about this film is honest and sincere, when you watch Elliot and Chloe you're not just watching you are along for the ride and you are invested, and you fall in love as they do.

The soundtrack and cinematography are up to par with the actors and dialogue, and continue to add to the genuineness of the film. The director was careful to only add music in places where people were listening to music unless absolutely necessary in a limited amount of scenes. Even then the songs fit perfectly and are so touching it wouldn't matter where they were used, song choice was A+ when considering the soundtrack.

I highly recommend this

film to anyone and everyone. As of now it is the best film I have seen so far and definitely my #1. It is a true diamond and rarity, it evokes so much emotion that isn't just boohoo sad, it's a complex film that brings out complex emotions that are hard to imagine unless you truly feel them. Please watch this film it is so incredibly underrated, and deserves so much more credit that is actually has gotten. I promise you will not be disappointed.

Watch Falling Overnight Here

Coco Chanel (2009) - Drama/Romance

Rating: 8/10

Summary: The story of Gabriella "Coco" Chanel (Audrey Tautou) before her rise to fame as a fashion phenomena. 

I found this film after watching Amelie (which I highly recommend), I really wanted to watch another film staring Audrey Tautou because she is such a brilliant actress and she has so much personality.

After seeing her play the eccentric, bubbly, and adventurous Amelie, it was strange to see her playing such a stubborn, serious, and sarcastic fashionista like Coco Chanel. It was strange but she did a marvelous job.

Her attitude throughout the film was fascinating to watch, Audrey was oozing with personality which made the film so much more interesting to watch. Also an independent woman forcing her way to the top is always entertaining, especially when you know she will become one of the most successful and influential women to ever live. Her sharp tongue made for fast paced sarcasm and quick wit humor that made Coco a total badass woman that I'm

sure no man wanted to ever mess with.

It was also interesting to see such an independent woman who seemed so emotionless fall in love unwillingly. It was outside the realm of normal Romance/Dramas where people are so willing to fall, where as she tried her best to avoid it, to push her lover as far away as possible.

This film is so entertaining and quite funny, and extremely fascinating. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in bios, or fashion, or if you like quick wit humor, or foreign films, or Audrey Tautou. Actually I recommend it to anyone, it's a great film that I'm sure everyone will thoroughly enjoy. Altogether I give it a B+.

Watch Coco Chanel Here

Stoker (2013) - Drama/Mystery/Thriller

Rating: 9/10

Summary: After India Stoker's (Mia Wasikowska) father dies in a mysterious car crash, her Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode) comes to live with her and her mother (Nicole Kidman). India begin's to fall for him and eventually his motives become clear.

I thought this film was incredible. The plot was outstandingly interesting although it was quite slow and confusing in the beginning. Throughout the entirety of the film I found my self almost jumping out of my sheets (instead of at the edge of my seat seeing as I was in bed wrapped in a blanket rather than sitting in a chair or couch), or with my jaw dropping because some scenes came as such a surprise to me. This film truly is a thriller and mystery.

Foremost, I am only familiar with Mia Wasikowska because of her appearance in Alice in Wonderland,

other than that I have not seen her in any other films. For me, she rose to the challenge of playing such a dark and almost mature role. Ultimately, she was brilliant throughout the entire film and did not disappoint what-so-ever. She added and interesting bit of personality to the character of India that made it seem like India was hiding something deep down inside her, and by the end of the film she embraced it and let it out. I can honestly say I don't think anyone could've portrayed India better than Mia did.

As for Nicole Kidman, I was not very fond of her character Evie though, as usual, she did an excellent job at playing the disturbed, and emotionally distraught mother. The role was not at all outside her realm or different from the roles she normally takes so I was not disappointed. She played a perfectly

unlikeable character, and made her, well, unlikeable. From the beginning she possessed a certain hatred towards India, she might have even resented her, which puts her on the side of the antagonist especially towards the end of the film. Overall she did a good job, and again I don't think anyone can play a role like that better than Nicole Kidman.

Matthew Goode did just as well as everyone else, though I am not familiar with him or any films he has previously been in. But like all the other mains in the film, he did not disappoint. He played a

perfectly charming psychopath throughout the film, and made Charlie seem attractive despite everything else that he did or said. I found myself hoping that he would achieve what he wanted and came to like him even.

As for cinematography, it was beautiful. I loved how certain details were taken into consideration and were made focus points throughout the whole film. For example India's shoes (SPOILER), which from the beginning of the film were a mystery until it is made clear that Charlie is the one who was the one sending them to her. Before it is even made clear to the audience, her shoes are a main focus and remain so the entire time. This film is endlessly fascinating and I'm sure if I were to watch it again I would pick up on certain small details that I didn't notice beforehand.

Overall Stoker is an excellent film. I would recommend it to anyone who has seen and likes Shutter Island or We Need to Talk About Kevin. It's ultimately deserving of a high rating 9/10 recommend to certain people A-.

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