My unemployed ass back again. If it's any consolation, my sem starts from the end of the month so this will probably be the last of these batch reviews I'm doing (for a while).
Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind (
2004) -
It was perfect. Everything. Down to the last minute details. Top-10 film for me, maybe even top-5. Jim Carrey is one fine actor. Not a happy film but has a satisfying ending. It has some comedic and romantic moments but better to define it as a drama than romance. I just love how the film explores all the concepts it introduces. The idea of being able to erase the memories of a person. It doesn't shy away from showing both the beauty and ugliness of a relationship and the best part is it doesn't give a clear cut answer whether
Joel and Clementine's relationship would survive this time. I just love the uncertainty of the ending, just like real life. Unrelated but I am just few weeks older than this film. Kinda makes it more special LOL.
10/10
La La Land (
2016) - I am not sure if I should even put this up here. I managed to watch around half of it (an hour) but found it really really boring and obnoxious. Both main characters felt very annoying. Seb (Ryan Gosling) going on his rant about jazz music made me roll my eyes. Maybe if I was a theater kid, I would appreciate it more?
5/10 for the cinematography although there is no point in rating half a film.
The Shop Around The Corner (
1940) - This is easily the oldest film I've ever watched by far.
You've Got Mail was based on this which I covered before. Unlike the Tom Hanks's film, the side-characters have actual personalities and well-developed. In old movies, characters tend to speak faster even though the pacing is slower than most modern-day films. But after a while, you get used to it. The dialogues were amazing. Loved the character interactions. For a "rom-com", it had some serious plotpoints involved (spoilers:
the shop owner attempts suicide after learning his wife is cheating on him with his employee). Majority of the film is shot inside/outside of the shop, the characters are the only thing holding this film. My only gripe is that they didn't show/tell what was written in those letters. Would have solidified the story more.
8.5/10
The Godfather (
1972) &
The Godfather Part II (
1974) - Covering both of the classics together. I mean its the Godfather and its sequel. Not gonna act like a contrarian and call them bad films. They ain't. I can see why they have such a legendary status and I agree with it but I personally found both films a little slow for my liking. Acting and dialogues were brilliant. There wasn't much action like you would expect from modern-day mafia films but whatever little they have, it is very well thought-out. Michael Corleone's (Al Pacino) transformation was extraordinary. I would rate the first part as
8/10 and the second as
8.5/10
13 Going On 30 (
2004) - I will need to give this a rewatch. Jennifer Garner's acting was too cute and innocent to dislike. Mark Ruffalo was good as well. Some really funny scenes there. Although the premise of "going back to past/future and changing your outcomes" thing has been to done to death at this point.
7/10