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Reviews
How to Deal (2003)
A Nice Surprise
Not another teen movie? *groan* I expected to see a slightly cheesy teen flick when I walked into the private screening of How to Deal. You know the type. There's always the popular girl who's a real witch, a choreographed dance scene at the prom, and the popular guy who falls for the quirky lead girl. Well this was NOT that movie.
If I were to compare this film with any others I would say it had a little bit of Breakfast Club, For Keeps, and Sixteen Candles (classic 80's Molly Ringwald movies). How to Deal is an honest film with 3-dimensional characters and a solid story that holds your interest and is generous with the laughs.
Any generation can relate to this film through the colorful cast of characters. There is the pot-head (and I use this term loosely) grandma, played by Nina Foch, who is absolutely hilarious. There's the recently divorced cynical mom who is still bitter about losing her husband to a younger woman, yet not so unforgiving as to make her unlikable. Allison Janney is so real as this character, I felt as if I knew her. Then there's the 'classy' older sister who is marrying a nerd from an uptight southern family. Let's not forget the bad boy who has a sensitive spot when it comes to the right girl, and the idealistic best friend who tries to 'deal' with everything life throws at her with cheerful resolve but only manages to do so because of her best friend, Halley--which brings us to the lead.
Mandy Moore's natural acting talent shines through in this character. She's a disillusioned girl afraid of falling in love because she's seen how love can hurt; yet she is coming into her own and wanting to embrace it. She's the rebellious teen with a spunky style that captures the ideal 'retro' look most teens are trying for these days. Sliding comfortably into this character, Mandy Moore rises to the level of a star. Out acting some of the most famous stars of today and definitely outshining them in looks department as well.
What I didn't expect to see was so much humor and at the same time honesty which takes this film to a whole new level. I would have liked the film to be longer. It covered everything from childbirth- to dying young- to weddings- to divorce- to drugs- to love and more. At times I felt a scene should have gone on a little longer, but with so many subjects to cover sometimes saying less really communicates the most.
I've saved the best for last. The directing. Clare Kilner directs this fabulous cast of characters and tells this story with humor, honesty, and a deep poignancy that you may mistake How to Deal for an early John Hughes flick. There's a bright future in store for Ms. Kilner and How to Deal says it loud and clear. There's a new girl in town and she's taking over. And I'll be there to watch her next one because there's no way I would miss it.
Real Women Have Curves (2002)
I Highly Recommend.
Ana has just graduated highschool and finds herself torn between doing what she wants to do (go to college) or do what her mom wants her to do (work in a sewing factory). She also confronts her feelings on being overweight.
I really liked the film. I felt like I could identify with Ana. Her mixed feelings on wanting to lose weight but at the same time wanting to love and accept herself just the way she is, is something most overweight women struggle with. The actress who played Ana brought the character to life. This film will stay with me for a long time.
Rain (2001)
The Taste of Rain....
Janey and her family spend their summers at their lakeside vacation home. The lake is a refuge for Janey and her little brother Jim. Janey tries teaching Jim to swim in the day, and at night, their parents parade them around as entertainment for their friends at their endless beach parties.
Janey seems to resent her mother and the way she treats her father. She realizes her parent's photographer friend is more than a friend to her mother...much more. Janey begins to fixate on the photographer and offers to be more than his photography subject which she ends up paying for dearly.
This film is directed by Christine Jeffs and is her first feature film. She has won awards for her Television Commercial Direction which is understandable in the film Rain through her use of slow motion photography. There are several slow motion shots that filter in and out of the film giving it a surreal yet creepy feel.
The pacing is comfortably slow and feels right for the story. The plot unfolds naturally and pulls you in for a gentle ride that unexpectedly becomes thrilling towards the panicked end. Janey is so easy to fall in love with. Her emotions are human and easy to relate to and I felt like I understood her to the core.
Actress Alicia Fulford-Wierzbicki plays Janey and captured my heart with her honest performance. Her performance is very impressive, especially considering this is her first feature film and she comes across as an experienced natural. Aaron Murphy plays the little brother and he is precious and real. The casting for this film is right on and makes this character driven movie 5 stars.
This film is based on the novel Rain by Kirsty Gunn. This is one of the first times that a movie was more impressive than the book on which it was based.