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maggiepennington362
Reviews
Bella (2006)
Not the Bella of the Ball
Looking back I don't know why I actually watched the entire film. Too many flashbacks, too much melodrama. I get the guy's pain. I don't need to see him do a double take at every little girl that walks by. Also,I did not connect with either lead despite the profound emotional angst each were dealing with. I did not even really emote towards them. I just felt like "okay so that is there life, what is next?" I did not even root for them to fall in love, and I don't know if they even did or were supposed to, maybe not? The fact remains that there is a missing link in this film, and the link connects the performances to the story. All in all it misses the mark.
Goodbye Solo (2008)
Best Film at SXSW!!
I admit, I was very worried when I saw the trailer for this film that Bahrani had sold out or made his first bad film. I was worried this was going to be something awful like The Legend of Bagger Vance or The Bucket List. Something cheesy, sentimental, or with an angel black man who saves a white man. Thank God none of that was true! The film is sooooooo GOOD! I loved Bahrani's first two films and wish more people had seen them. But this is his best film yet and I am glad it has a wider release! The characters are real, honest, sincere and once again Bahrani manages to avoid all the normal plot devices that ruin films. Compared to Man Push Cart and Chop Shop, Goodbye Solo has a much stronger story-line and is really tense. You always want to know what happens next, but especially the last 30minutes the audience I saw it here at SXSW were rivited. AND-- it is funny! The first half of the film is really funny and I didn't expect that at all! A lot of that is the writing and directing, but a lot is the acting. That guy playing Solo is so charming he has star written all over him. His warmth and personality make the film something really special, especially next to the old man playing William. He is just perfect in the role, as if it was written for him. The movie left me feeling a little sad, but also really strong and hopeful, which sounds weird, but it's true. Its been days since I saw the film, and I saw many others at the festival, some good ones too, but this is the one that stayed with me. It is the best film I have seen all year and I will see it again when it opens in Austin.
The Wrestler (2008)
Rourke Pins this One to the Floor
The Wrestler, is a portrayal of a once been to a has been clinging to a last chance at redemption in his hopes to reclaim his glory and make reparation for all that he gave up along the ways to success and was not able to reconnect to after his downfall from stardom. I really enjoyed this film. Aronofsky nailed the world of wrestling. It made me recall the days when Saturday morning was filled with Hulk Hogan, Randy Macho Man, Jake the Snake...the Warrior and all those guys. I found that the battles the Ram fought inside the ring and within himself in connection to his sport was much more invigorating to watch rather than his battles to find love with stripper Cassidy and from his estranged daughter Stephanie.The locker room scenes and scenes of Randy's everyday life were well done, but every scene with Cassidy was just predictable, boring and cliché. The film could be equally powerful and strong if she never was seen on screen and just another part of his life we know he lost and will never reclaim. However, I often think that perhaps this part of the story may have been better if recast; Evan Rachel Wood has yet to win me over.But thank heavens Mickey Rourke is back what I hope is better than ever, ready to reclaim his own stardom...lets just hope it does not mirror that of Randy's.
Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)
A bit unsure
I saw this film with my best gal pal thinking we were going to have a Girls Night Out full of laughs at a romantic comedy...and we did, but I left still a bit disappointed. It took me a while to adjust to Poppy; she was a bit too over the top and annoying. I get she is happy being herself, etc. but it still translated to oblivious and got on my nerves. However, after about 15 minutes and a driving lesson later, she either chilled out a bit or I just accepted her. I did think some parts were funny. I did like Poppy and I don't regret seeing the film. Sally Hawkings deserves the recognition for her performance, but her performance outshines the film as a whole. I was most unsure about the direction of some of the characters. For example, I did not know whether I would turn out to hate Tim, like he would screw her over OR should I root for Scott to absorb a bit of Poppy's happiness. When I realized Scott was not so great and Tim appeared to be a good guy, I necessarily wasn't smiling and like "yeah, all is happy and good." Perhaps I should applaud the film for not being a stereotypical cheesy romantic comedy, and laud for its attempt to drift away from the average romantic comedy...but I am still a bit unsure of how or that what was tried actually worked.