Running Scared

                I’m finally back! I know it’s been a long time and a lot has been going on but I have still made time to watch plenty of movies so you’ll start seeing some reviews soon! I’ve decided to start back up with one of my all time favorite movies, Running Scared.

                Running Scared was made in 2006 by Wayne Kramer and stars Paul Walker as Joey Gazelle and Cameron Bright as Oleg Yugorsky, who some might know as “the cure” from X-men: The Last Stand. This movie definitely is not for those who don’t like blood, violence or excessive use of the F-bomb. This is perhaps the movie with the most F-bombs I have ever watched with a total of 315 uses which in a 122 minute film averages about 2.5 uses per minute, that’s a lot of F-bombs! Bad words aside, the story of Running Scared is about the Russian mafia and a drug deal gone bad where Joey Gazelle has to get rid of a unique gun used in the shooting of undercover cops. However, Joey’s son’s neighbor friend, Oleg, takes the gun to try to stop the abuse of his Russian mobster step-dad. Along the way, Joey’s wife Teresa Gazelle (Vera Farmiga) must fight to protect her son and save Oleg from highly dangerous serial kidnappers and “Mac daddy pimps”. One of the last scenes, and by far the most disturbing, features a hockey rink where the Russian mob has one final shoot out that is so bloody they had to use black lights to make it not seem as bad.

                Wayne Kramer’s way of filming Running Scared was very precise and artistic. He had the whole film drawn out with the specific camera angles and designs he wanted portrayed in the movie. The end credits showcase some of the artwork while taking you back through key parts in the film. The soundtrack for Running Scared by Mark Isham, is filled with dark, mysterious tones that get your blood pumping and make you feel that there is an increased sense of danger. If you would like to hear the main theme for the movie you can click here.

                Overall, Running Scared is a really good movie if you like violence, blood, mobsters and Paul Walker (Running Scared is probably one of his best films). If however, you don’t like any of the above then this definitely isn’t the movie for you and if you just like Paul Walker you’re probably better off seeing one of the Fast and Furious movies.

“Don’t nobody know nobody!” – Tommy from Running Scared

127 Hours

127 Hours directed by Danny Boyle and starring James Franco is a truly inspirational and emotional film about outdoorsman Aron Ralston. Everyone remembers turning on the news in 2003 and hearing about a guy that was out hiking and had to cut his own arm off in order to survive. After reading many articles and watching dozens of videos 127 Hours sticks to the true story in terms of what Ralston experienced and how he dealt with his predicament. The movie also made sure to include specific details in the crucial scene; such as, the nerves he has to get through and the smile when he breaks his arm so he can cut through it.

Subject matter aside, 127 Hours as a whole is a fantastic film. It opens up with video of the world around us, cities, sports, people, all edited together in three side by side shots to make the impression that it’s a lot bigger than we think. The music throughout the movie is incredible, it makes the feelings you already feel just by watching it so much more intense with triumphant sounds, acoustic guitars that match the landscape or electric guitar to symbolize the intense pain Ralston endures (if you would like to listen to some of it without watching the movie this is an example of the triumphant, remembering type of music and here is one that makes you feel kind of sad and desperate just listening to it). James Franco is quite amazing in this movie obviously; he got nominated for Best Actor. His facial expressions and emotions that he portrays are so spot on, he just sucks you into the movie and you feel like you are there.

I feel a little bad about not being able to write a longer review for such a great movie, but everyone already knows what happens and all I can really say is how good a job they did on making the true story come to the big screen. 127 Hours is a fantastic film that everyone should see for one reason or another. I highly recommend this movie if you’re sitting at home with nothing to do and want something really good to watch.

Adam

Adam (2009) directed by Max Mayer and staring Hugh Dancy (some may know him from Confessions of a Shopaholic) and Rose Bryn. Hugh Dancy plays, Adam, a twenty nine year old man who has Asperger’s Syndrome and struggles to find another job so he can keep his New York apartment. Shortly after his father dies he meets his neighbor that lives above him, Beth, played by Rose Bryn. He immediately starts talking to her about outer space and the rest, you’ll have to see for yourself.

From what I know from experience and research, the Asperger’s syndrome in the film correctly portrays actual Asperger’s. Adam has difficulty socializing in large groups of people he doesn’t know and often talks too much when he gets excited about a topic. Adam also struggles to keep eye contact and has trouble figuring out what other people are thinking. Hugh Dancy makes his role very believable and charming. By the end of the movie, I was a little surprised that it didn’t follow the tradition Hollywood ending; although, maybe not so surprising since it wasn’t a main-stream film. If you are interested in Asperger’s or are just in the mood for a good romantic drama Adam is the movie for you!

Let Me In

Let Me In(2010) directed by Matt Reeves and starring Kodi Smit-Mcphee as bullied twelve year old, Owen, who befriends vampire girl Abby, played by Chloe Moretz (the girl from Kick-Ass), who looks about the same age but states she has been twelve for a very long time. The original was a Swedish film called Let the Right One In made in 2008; both are based off the book referred to as either title.  Owen is frequently bullied by other boys at his school and when Abby moves into the apartment next to his, he immediately tries to be her friend. The acting of the children, I thought, was rather good for what they had to do. The role of Abby was quite different from Chloe Moretz’ Kick-Ass, and required her to be more mysterious yet still deadly. I also thought Kodi Smit-Mcphee’s Owen was believably scared, confused and brave when needed but, there aren’t any movies I know of to compare his performance to.

The one thing the instantly caught my eye as soon as the movie started was the special effects.  The snow fall in the first scene looks completely fake and as the ambulance drives through it, it looks like the ambulance is just driving through normal air. The vampire movements; however, are very vampire-like except I feel like they made the CGI version of Abby too small and thin to match what she really looked like. Along with some of the special effects I had a problem with a few of the camera angles. Whenever Abby or Owen were in the corner of the screen, back to the camera, it would focus on them instead of what they were looking at which took up the majority of the screen. What they were blurring wasn’t anything that would raise suspense, in both cases it was just other people such as Owen’s mom.

        Despite the animations and camera views, I did like how close it stuck to the original movie and book. The play ground where they first meet and frequently hang out looks almost identical to the original with nothing more than a small jungle gym. Let Me In also stays true to Let the Right One In in that the girl is very sheltered and protected by her “father” who hangs people upside down to collect their blood for her. I also like the fact they stuck in the Morse code communication between the two kids, although they used it more often in the original.

        So, without giving away the ending, Let Me In is a pretty good movie that stays close to its origins. If you like vampires, cold wintery nights, blood and violence, then check out this movie. Let Me In and Let the Right One In are both definitely worth watching and I suggest watching both of them to see the differences and similarities for yourself. 

My Neighbor Totoro

     My Neighbor Totoro is a 1988 children's anime by Hayao Miyazaki, also known for films such as Spirited Away. Totoro is about two girls who move to an old house near an enchanted forest, where they meet the spirit guide Totoro and get into mischief. Totoro is a giant gray creature resembling Snorlax from pokemon. I remember watching this movie as a child and distinctly remembering the cat bus. I had wondered what it would feel like to ride inside of a giant creepy eyed cat, being allergic to cats I don't think I would enjoy it much although it would still be fun I'm sure. I also wondered, if they were inside a cat why didn't they get all slimy?
    As I grew up I forgot all about My Neighbor Totoro until a few years ago when I was trying my hardest to remember the movie with the cat bus and Snorlax. As I talked to my then boyfriend about it (little did I know he had every Miyazaki film), he told me it was Totoro and I immediately had to watch it. Rewatching My Neighbor Totoro was like revisiting my childhood, almost like watching Lion King for the two millionth time but not quite that intense.  My Neighbor Totoro will always have a place in my movie heart as the childhood film that made me wish I wasn't allergic to cats for once.