Critical Film Studies (#1.13)

It's Movie Review Time!

Yes, in fact, I do occasionally go see movies and this weekend I went to THREE!!!  It's true.  On a long holiday weekend, I discovered that going to the movies alone can be quite fun and then I went a little overboard in my excitement and spent way too much money.  But now you get the pleasure of reading my thoughts on each of them, so I suppose more good than bad came of it.


On Friday, I went to see Young Adult.  And yesterday I first went to We Bought a Zoo in the afternoon and then later saw The Descendants.  All of these films have some hype surrounding them - for acting, directing, writing, etc.  Oscar season is upon us, after all.  And while all three of them certainly have their perks, I don't think I saw the best film of the year this weekend.  Anyway, here are my more specific thoughts and opinions on each of these films.

Young Adult

Starring Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, and Patrick Wilson

Written by Diablo Cody

Directed by Jason Reitman

Charlize Theron plays Mavis Gary, a thirty-seven-year-old young adult book writer who, when we come into the story, decides to travel back to her hometown from the big city (aka Minneapolis) in order to win back her high school boyfriend, Buddy (Patrick Wilson, who happens to have just had a baby with his wife).  It's a terrible plan and she's told so on numerous occasions by Matt (Patton Oswalt), whose locker was right next to her throughout high school, but she never bothered to notice.  They become fast friends while under the influence of alcohol - the kind of friends they never could have been in high school.


Is it weird that I keep bringing up high school?  Yeah, it's weird when Mavis does it, too.  She's almost 20 years removed from it, but Mavis still very much acts like the petty and bitchy prom queen she was back then.  You'll hate her and pity her at the same time.  Because even though her life may seem glamorous and she treats everyone like she's cut from a better cloth, she is utterly and terribly alone.  Of course, her plans to win back Buddy go horribly awry and like witnessing an awful train wreck, you'll want to look away, but just can't.  It's funny how bad it gets, but the laughs don't happen out loud.


Theron (nominated for a Golden Globe) and Oswalt both give terrific performances that will make all the awkward and squeamish parts more bearable.  It's a somewhat uncomfortable film to watch, but that's a testament to Cody and Reitman.  And it will certainly make you grateful that you grew out of that high school mentality.  Or it will at least give you good reason to do so now, if you haven't.
Overall grade: B




* Side Note: Shout out to a fellow Jessica Kelly, credited with casting Young Adult.

We Bought a Zoo

Starring Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, and Thomas Haden Church

Written by Cameron Crowe, Aline Brosh McKenna, and based on the book by Benjamin Mee

Directed by Cameron Crowe

If you don't catch the gist from the title, the main characters in this film buy a zoo.  Or more accurately, in an effort to find a fresh start, they buy a house that comes attached to a rundown wildlife park.  Matt Damon, as Benjamin Mee, has recently lost his wife and mother to his two children, Dylan (14) and Rosie (7).  They bond with the animals and the zoo's staff and come together to reopen a once-great establishment.


My snap judgment was this, in the form of a text to my mother, "Two hours of emotional manipulation.  But like in a super cute way."  This film has everything necessary for a complete movie of "awwww" - cute kids, adorable animals, a man still in love with his gone-too-soon wife, inspirational speeches, young love, and more.  I felt like I teetered back and forth between watering eyes and smiles.  But it was cute.  It was uplifting.  It was a great film to see with your family over the holiday weekend.


There were plenty of laughs, most of which were provided by Maggie Elizabeth Jones' young Rosie and Thomas Haden Church's disbelieving Uncle Duncan.  And as someone who usually groans when Scarlett Johansson shows up in anything, I found her surprisingly great.  I think my favorite part was the way they held back on the romance between her Kelly and Damon's Ben(jamin).  It didn't feel rushed or forced or like it took too much of the focus.  I'm not sure if I have any other way to describe it other than cute - charming? delightful? - but in this situation, I don't think that's such a bad thing.
Overall grade: B

The Descendants

Starring George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, and Amara Miller

Written by Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash**

Directed by Alexander Payne

The Descendants is about a man whose wife has been forced into a coma by a boating accident.  And then he learns from his oldest daughter, Alex (Shailene Woodley), that this wife had been cheating on him in the weeks before the accident.  It's an impossibly tough situation made even worse.  This film is similar to We Bought a Zoo in that it revolves around a widower and his two children trying to deal with the loss of their wife and mother, but that is where the similarities end.  Matt's wife, Elizabeth, enters her coma amidst a heaping pile of anger and betrayal.  When everyone around the tragedy is offering words of hope and encouragement, it becomes hard for Matt, and especially Alex, to hold back the truth of her infidelity.  This is when they set out to find this guy, Brian Speer (Matthew Lillard), whose actions have caused them so much pain.

There is some humor, particularly involving the youngest daughter, Scottie (Amara Miller), but the real emotion of this film comes from how this family deals with this incredible situation.  Shailene Woodley has already received praise for her performance, although I'm not entirely convinced she didn't just luck into it.  Clooney is great, like always, and has already been nominated for a Golden Globe and a SAG Award for this role.  Additionally, I got a nice surprise on learning that Judy Greer was a part of the cast.  I already love her from her work on every comedy show ever, but she really showcased some dramatic chops in this one, as the wife of Mr. Speer.  The Descendants was much sadder than I had anticipated.  From the trailers, I think I was looking for something a little more goofy, maybe.  Nevertheless, it was pretty good.

Overall grade: B+

** Yes, Dean Pelton helped write The Descendants.

All in all, I saw some pretty good movies this weekend.  All were above average and worth seeing, although maybe just pick one to see in theaters.  It gets expensive!

I still feel like I haven't seen the best film of the year yet.  Or maybe I already saw it this summer with Bridesmaids or Crazy, Stupid, Love.  With these two, I left the theater amazed.  That didn't quite happen this weekend.  But we all know I prefer comedy, in general, so I may be a little biased.  Although I feel like I am fairly capable of separating what I like and what is good, if need be.

Anyway, if you've seen one (or more) of these films above, let me know what you thought!  What do you think is the best film of the year?