Review of Hesher (2010)
Directed by Spencer Susser
Written by Spencer Susser, David Michôd, and Brian Charles Frank
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Devin Brochu, Rainn Wilson, Piper Laurie, and Natalie Portman
Review by Jennie Brouse
Synopsis: After the death of his mother, young T.J., confused and feeling alone, meets Hesher, an unpredictable, impulsive man, who seems mean at first, but just may teach him something about life.
Review: Hesher centers around the life of adolescent T.J. (played by an impressive Devin Brochu), a young boy growing up with his father (played by Rainn Wilson) and grandmother (played by Piper Laurie), left depressed and confused after the death of his mother two months before. Unsure of what to do with himself, and attempting to hold on to the last memory of his mother that he has, T.J. desperately tries to get the family car back when his father has to give it away. Because T.J. is angry and upset, he throws a rock through a window of a house he believes to be abandoned, and he meets Hesher.
Hesher (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), is a metal-loving, long-haired all-around crazy dude. He gets angry with T.J. for breaking the window of his "home" and soon enough, Hesher appears again, now telling T.J. that he must tell his father and grandmother that he is a friend of his. Out of fright, T.J. goes along with it, and Hesher begins living in their house. For T.J., who is already confused and upset, the presence of Hesher is a burden he is not ready to accept. Hesher seems to make T.J.'s life way worse, not better, and T.J. grows increasingly annoyed. Hesher even sees T.J. being picked on by a bully, and just walks away, not even attempting to help T.J.
The idea of Hesher and the way he acts is almost too out there to be believable, but just when the audience believes Hesher really is a terrible person, he does something decent that makes people believe in him again. Although a little strange, the film was quite enjoyable, and newcomer Devin Brochu as T.J. was especially impressive. Joseph Gordon-Levitt impresses as well, playing someone much different than, say, Tom from (500) Days of Summer. Overall, the characters (and of course the actors who play them) are what make this film worth seeing.
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Upcoming Review: Super 8 (2011)
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Review of "Pirate Radio"
Pirate Radio (2009)
Directed by Richard Curtis
Written by Richard Curtis
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Nick Frost, Tom Sturridge, Chris O'Dowd, and Rhys Ifans
Synopsis: In the 1960s, when the English government looked down on the newly formed "rock and roll" music, radio broadcasters play rock music from their radio station (Radio Rock) on a ship off the coast of England.
Review: Pirate Radio centers around a group of men who all have one important thing in common: they love rock and roll music. To them, and to the millions of listeners in England, rock music is the coolest, best thing in the world. But to the English government, rock music is "promoting" drugs and sex and sending the people of London the wrong message. The harder the government fights to shut Radio Rock down, the harder the crew fights back to keep rock music alive. Although a little zany and crazy and even at times somewhat unbelievable, this movie was full of funny and sentimental moments that would melt even the toughest critic's heart.
The film also features an impressive cast, with Philip Seymour Hoffman as "The Count" (the lead radio broadcaster), Bill Nighy as the men's adviser of sorts, Nick Frost as an outgoing, goofy broadcaster, and impressive newcomer Tom Sturridge, as a young teenage boy who is sent by his mother to come live with the men on the ship. And considering the time period and the place, the 1960s in England, the music rocks. The soundtrack is full of great tracks from The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, The Beach Boys, and many other great artists from that time. Overall, Pirate Radio is a feel-good film with an amazing soundtrack, something to see for music lovers or someone looking for a good comedy.
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Upcoming Review: Hesher (2010)
Directed by Richard Curtis
Written by Richard Curtis
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Nick Frost, Tom Sturridge, Chris O'Dowd, and Rhys Ifans
Synopsis: In the 1960s, when the English government looked down on the newly formed "rock and roll" music, radio broadcasters play rock music from their radio station (Radio Rock) on a ship off the coast of England.
Review: Pirate Radio centers around a group of men who all have one important thing in common: they love rock and roll music. To them, and to the millions of listeners in England, rock music is the coolest, best thing in the world. But to the English government, rock music is "promoting" drugs and sex and sending the people of London the wrong message. The harder the government fights to shut Radio Rock down, the harder the crew fights back to keep rock music alive. Although a little zany and crazy and even at times somewhat unbelievable, this movie was full of funny and sentimental moments that would melt even the toughest critic's heart.
The film also features an impressive cast, with Philip Seymour Hoffman as "The Count" (the lead radio broadcaster), Bill Nighy as the men's adviser of sorts, Nick Frost as an outgoing, goofy broadcaster, and impressive newcomer Tom Sturridge, as a young teenage boy who is sent by his mother to come live with the men on the ship. And considering the time period and the place, the 1960s in England, the music rocks. The soundtrack is full of great tracks from The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, The Beach Boys, and many other great artists from that time. Overall, Pirate Radio is a feel-good film with an amazing soundtrack, something to see for music lovers or someone looking for a good comedy.
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Upcoming Review: Hesher (2010)
Review of "Somewhere"
Somewhere (2010)
Directed by Sofia Coppola
Written by Sofia Coppola
Starring: Stephen Dorff and Elle Fanning
Review by Jennie Brouse
Synopsis: When a young eleven-year-old girl unexpectedly comes to stay with her father, a successful, albeit unreliable man, he is forced to confront what is important to him in his life.
Review: In Sofia Coppola's Somewhere, Johnny Marco (played by Stephen Dorff) is a laid back, middle-age actor, essentially floating through life without any concerns about his life passing him by. That is, until his 11 year old daughter, Cleo (played by Elle Fanning), comes into his life, and has to stay with him for a few weeks. Although the movie is very subtle and slow-moving (with long shots of Dorff and Fanning sitting by a pool together, driving in a car, etc.), the intended message becomes clear.
The presence of Marco's daughter in his life forces him to examine his life thus far, and to re-determine his priorities. The characters are portrayed in a simple, realistic way that helps the viewer understand and feel for the father and daughter, and hope that their relationship will continue to grow, even if Cleo goes back to live with her mother. Overall, Somewhere was a well-written, simplistic film that did very well at showing the audience a seemingly real relationship between a father and a daughter, a relationship where not everything is perfect, but somehow we know that Johnny will stick with his kid.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Upcoming Review: Pirate Radio (2009)
Directed by Sofia Coppola
Written by Sofia Coppola
Starring: Stephen Dorff and Elle Fanning
Review by Jennie Brouse
Synopsis: When a young eleven-year-old girl unexpectedly comes to stay with her father, a successful, albeit unreliable man, he is forced to confront what is important to him in his life.
Review: In Sofia Coppola's Somewhere, Johnny Marco (played by Stephen Dorff) is a laid back, middle-age actor, essentially floating through life without any concerns about his life passing him by. That is, until his 11 year old daughter, Cleo (played by Elle Fanning), comes into his life, and has to stay with him for a few weeks. Although the movie is very subtle and slow-moving (with long shots of Dorff and Fanning sitting by a pool together, driving in a car, etc.), the intended message becomes clear.
The presence of Marco's daughter in his life forces him to examine his life thus far, and to re-determine his priorities. The characters are portrayed in a simple, realistic way that helps the viewer understand and feel for the father and daughter, and hope that their relationship will continue to grow, even if Cleo goes back to live with her mother. Overall, Somewhere was a well-written, simplistic film that did very well at showing the audience a seemingly real relationship between a father and a daughter, a relationship where not everything is perfect, but somehow we know that Johnny will stick with his kid.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Upcoming Review: Pirate Radio (2009)
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Sorry
I'm sorry I haven't been updating and continuously writing reviews. I originally planned to do so, but it became too difficult. Now that it's summer I will attempt to write more reviews. And I did see "Somewhere," which I planned to review next, but since it's been a few months I will probably skip writing a full review and only write a short review on the parts of the movie I remember thoroughly. I also recently saw the film "Hesher," starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a metal loving, long-haired, somewhat crazy badass. I also plan on seeing "Super 8" and "Midnight in Paris" soon, both of which I intend on reviewing. Until I post my mini-review for "Somewhere," have fun at the movies!
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