![Film Review- Little Miss Sunshine (2006) This film is the reason why I love this medium. A heartwarming story about a little girls dreams of becoming Miss California with a side dish of a dysfunctional family. It’s a film that is packed with issues but still turns out to be a lovely uplifting saga which is filled with light hearted comedy, emotion and pure beauty.
Plot- The Hoover family is filled with massive problems. The father (Greg Kinnear) has a step by step program for winners and losers that he wished to proceed and make famous with a book deal and so on. However success is slim and this puts pressure on his relationship with is wife. However the film is focused on the daughter, Olive (Abigail Breslin) who enters the Little miss Sunshine contest who was trained by her Grandfather(Alan Arkin) , who an old WW2 veteran who has an addiction to Heroin. Also the Son, Dwayne (Paul Dano) takes a vow of silence to become a Pilot and he hates everybody. Finally Their Uncle, Uncle Frank (Steve Carell) is a gay Proust Scholar who tried to commit suicide. This film tracks the journey to the little miss sunshine contest.
Review- There are not many films that I watch that I think are perfect. There are not many films that I get so engrossed into, that I feel for every character and enjoy it throughout. This is one of those films. Little Miss Sunshine is one of those little gems, that didn’t need multi-million budget, explosion or nudity to appease audiences. This film has a heart, great script and a perfect performances from every member of the cast. I can’t stress how perfect each actor/actress were. Steve Carell was perfect playing the guy who has just tried to commit suicide. He plays the silent, edgy character which tries to say that he’s fine but everywhere he looks he reminding of his pain and he acts it so well, showing that Carell can play more serious roles. Kinnear and Collette was just perfect playing the pushy and laid back parents with their own struggles but its Carell, Dano’s performance as the silent son, who hates everybody is even more perfect. Abigail Breslin as Olive is fantastic, the scene where she asks her granddad if she’s pretty is a stand out scene and it’s because of Breslin’s performance makes it so amazing. A brilliant child actor. Alan Arkin as the Granddad is the source of Comedy and his performance is a scene stealer he is a much deserved Oscar Winning performance. I cannot fault anyone on their performance because they were flawless, every single one.
The story is some what simple, a dysfunctional family going on a journey to take their Daughter to a beauty pagent. In that simple sentence their are problems of divorce, bankruptcy, suicide, addiction, sexualisation of young women, homosexuailty, family, death, life. It’s full of these issues but it balances it out with some light hearted comedy and emotion perfectly. It never becomes too depressing or cheesy. It’s a great script that has so many memorable moments. It has moment of problems, solutions and wisdom. It pulled each string perfectly, with every emotion being used. When you needed to feel happy the film produced it, when it needed a problem to overcome, it produced it. When you need to stare at the screen at go all teary eyed, it did it. When a film has no big budget or explosion it can’t hide behind a mask, it needs a beautifully written script, a big heart and amazing performances to make it a great film and this film has it.
[Spoiler Alert] One of my favourite parts were the pageant scene where there is a clear sexualisation of young girls but the audience cheer it and applaud however when Olive explicitly presents a strip tease, the audience are horrified, it’s the irony of the audience that are played so well. However the seminal theme for the film is family, it starts of with a separated family full of problems, and ends with a close knitted family that still has those problems but it’s the togetherness that creates the solution that audiences are hungry for. Some people may find it depressing or not that impacting but it’s not depressing, it’s life. It doesn’t fully go into depth with the problems but it still tackles them perfectly.
Overall- This is a film that is a little gem that has a big heart. Brilliant direction, great script, amazing performances and an emotional ride. Little Miss Sunshine is no blockbuster, no explosion fest of booms and boobs and monster. It’s a stripped down film that is simple. It’s so simple that it is beautiful. Emotional, majestic, funny and sweet. This is a perfect film that is simple, heart warming and just beauty. Film Rating- 10/10](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7j3xaPRih1rnq4sko1_500.jpg)
Film Review- Little Miss Sunshine (2006) This film is the reason why I love this medium. A heartwarming story about a little girls dreams of becoming Miss California with a side dish of a dysfunctional family. It’s a film that is packed with issues but still turns out to be a lovely uplifting saga which is filled with light hearted comedy, emotion and pure beauty.
Plot- The Hoover family is filled with massive problems. The father (Greg Kinnear) has a step by step program for winners and losers that he wished to proceed and make famous with a book deal and so on. However success is slim and this puts pressure on his relationship with is wife. However the film is focused on the daughter, Olive (Abigail Breslin) who enters the Little miss Sunshine contest who was trained by her Grandfather(Alan Arkin) , who an old WW2 veteran who has an addiction to Heroin. Also the Son, Dwayne (Paul Dano) takes a vow of silence to become a Pilot and he hates everybody. Finally Their Uncle, Uncle Frank (Steve Carell) is a gay Proust Scholar who tried to commit suicide. This film tracks the journey to the little miss sunshine contest.
Review- There are not many films that I watch that I think are perfect. There are not many films that I get so engrossed into, that I feel for every character and enjoy it throughout. This is one of those films. Little Miss Sunshine is one of those little gems, that didn’t need multi-million budget, explosion or nudity to appease audiences. This film has a heart, great script and a perfect performances from every member of the cast. I can’t stress how perfect each actor/actress were. Steve Carell was perfect playing the guy who has just tried to commit suicide. He plays the silent, edgy character which tries to say that he’s fine but everywhere he looks he reminding of his pain and he acts it so well, showing that Carell can play more serious roles. Kinnear and Collette was just perfect playing the pushy and laid back parents with their own struggles but its Carell, Dano’s performance as the silent son, who hates everybody is even more perfect. Abigail Breslin as Olive is fantastic, the scene where she asks her granddad if she’s pretty is a stand out scene and it’s because of Breslin’s performance makes it so amazing. A brilliant child actor. Alan Arkin as the Granddad is the source of Comedy and his performance is a scene stealer he is a much deserved Oscar Winning performance. I cannot fault anyone on their performance because they were flawless, every single one.
The story is some what simple, a dysfunctional family going on a journey to take their Daughter to a beauty pagent. In that simple sentence their are problems of divorce, bankruptcy, suicide, addiction, sexualisation of young women, homosexuailty, family, death, life. It’s full of these issues but it balances it out with some light hearted comedy and emotion perfectly. It never becomes too depressing or cheesy. It’s a great script that has so many memorable moments. It has moment of problems, solutions and wisdom. It pulled each string perfectly, with every emotion being used. When you needed to feel happy the film produced it, when it needed a problem to overcome, it produced it. When you need to stare at the screen at go all teary eyed, it did it. When a film has no big budget or explosion it can’t hide behind a mask, it needs a beautifully written script, a big heart and amazing performances to make it a great film and this film has it.
[Spoiler Alert] One of my favourite parts were the pageant scene where there is a clear sexualisation of young girls but the audience cheer it and applaud however when Olive explicitly presents a strip tease, the audience are horrified, it’s the irony of the audience that are played so well. However the seminal theme for the film is family, it starts of with a separated family full of problems, and ends with a close knitted family that still has those problems but it’s the togetherness that creates the solution that audiences are hungry for. Some people may find it depressing or not that impacting but it’s not depressing, it’s life. It doesn’t fully go into depth with the problems but it still tackles them perfectly.
Overall- This is a film that is a little gem that has a big heart. Brilliant direction, great script, amazing performances and an emotional ride. Little Miss Sunshine is no blockbuster, no explosion fest of booms and boobs and monster. It’s a stripped down film that is simple. It’s so simple that it is beautiful. Emotional, majestic, funny and sweet. This is a perfect film that is simple, heart warming and just beauty. Film Rating- 10/10
Film Review: Philadelphia (1993) - A mainstream film about the discrimination and ignorance of the AIDS pandemic and homophobia. From two of the greatest actors of all time; Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. I was hesitant of how they’ll portray it because it’s hollywood but they did alright.
Plot- Andrew Beckett (Hanks) is a homosexual lawyer who has contracted AIDS and the owner of the law firm finds out and fires him, Beckett hires Joe Miller (Washington) who is a homophobic lawyer who sues the law firm over discrimination and wrongful termination.
Review: I love Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington and any film these two are in they steal and they are great in this film. Hanks portrays an openly gay lawyer with great substance, similar to Washington’s homophobic lawyer and his struggle to accept Gay’s being human beings can be hard to follow as first because some of the things he does say is quite offensive. However he does accept it in the best scene of the film, which is the opera scene, where Hanks explains a beautiful opera song to Washington and it is a heartbreaking scene where Washington accepts homosexuality, honestly I don’t think he fully accepts it as he goes straight home to see his baby and wife to try to recapture his heterosexual tendencies but for that moment during the opera song, even though he says nothing he face shows that he doesn’t homosexuality as a disease.
Homophobia is a huge problem in 1993 and it definitely still is and sadly it will continue but I don’t want to get fully into the subject as that’s a whole new direction. But that is the only thing I had a problem with this film, it that there were only extremes. IT showed people who was massively homophobic or gay. The middle was hardly shown and I don’t think it showcased a realistic view of societies stance of homosexuality. But what do I know I was born in 1993. Not saying the views are real because there is strong homophobia still present today and it does sicken me that politicians can be openly homophobic and still run for president.
It is a brilliant film that does tug at the heart strings and it does represent AIDS ignorance very well as I have met people who still think you can catch AIDS via the toilet seat. It is a risky film for being one of the first mainstream films to tackle this topic and it’s still a risky topic for mainstream films. The conclusion wasn’t too conclusive, you do hear the case result but the ending is not that closing for me. Apart from that everything is perfect even the song by Bruce Springsteen, “Streets of Philadelphia”
Overall- It is an amazing film that tackles a taboo topic, which shouldn’t be taboo. The conclusion is pretty shabby and representation of society is a bit exaggerated (Well it is Hollywood) however it’s a hard hitting film from two of the greatest actors of all time. Definitely watch this film as it is insightful and has amazing performances. This film definitely should go under the title of a classic. Film Rating- 8/10
30 Day Movie Challenge - Day 20 - Favorite movie from your favourite actor - Glory (1989) Yes my favourite actor is Denzel Washington just because he is an amazing actor and every film he is in he steals it and even if hes the supporting character he makes sure hes not. Glory is about the first black regiment in the American Civil war and how badly there were treated but still fought on with bucket loads of courage to fight for their freedom. Glory is a masterpiece that is hugely emotional and is filled with brilliant performances from Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman and even Matthew Broderick. This film is a little outdated and can be slow but this still triumphs as a film with great characters and action sets. It’s a film that is a hidden gem where not many people have heard off, even though Washington won a supporting actor Oscar for this. Damn I’m not sure if anyone will read this but it is a great film- Film Rating- 8/10
30 Day Movie Challenge- Day 14 - A movie that no one would expect you to love- Pursuit of Happyness (2006) Now this was hard to choose because most of the people I know, know that I love a lot of films so I’m picking one of my favourite films that not many people would expect to be. Pursuit of Happyness is a fantastic film about the rags to riches story of stock broker Chris Gardener. Will Smith gives his best performance ever!! I mean ever. He plays the against the odds father with such realism. The connection he has with his real life son is perfect. This allows you to connect with his character because the connection between father and son is real. The most heartbreaking moment is when their homeless and he has to play a game with his son to hide the fact that they have to sleep in the toilets for the night. This is truly an inspirational story where this guy was put down by everyone in the business, society and his ex wife. This made me cry, laugh and smile and any film that can make me do that is one hell of a film. (Smith should of got that oscar!!!) - Film Rating- 8.5/10
30 day Movie Challenge- day 8 - A Movie that you’ve seen countless times- Rocky (1976) Now everyone should of seen or even heard about this film. This is a classic and is one of my favourite films. I’m a massive Rocky fan and I love them all, doesn’t matter how stupid they get. It’s a typical rags to riches story of Rocky Balboa, an amateur boxer nearing retirement gets given the chance to face the champion, Apollo Creed. Honestly this film, boxing is the back story, the relationship between Rocky and Adrian is the most beautiful thing about this film. Them too have such a great connection on screen that makes their relationship so believable and so sweet. Mickey, the trainer is brilliant as the disheveled trainer and every scene he’s in, he steals it. This films plays heavily on the fact that this is Mickey and Rocky’s final chance at making an impact. The fighting in the ring is definitely outdated but the story is just as fresh as it was 36 years ago. The love story is fantastic, the rags to riches story is inspiring, it has so much memorable quotes (Yo Adrian!!!) memorable scenes (Running up the stairs to the Art Museum) and the soundtrack is absolutely fantastic. It works so well with the film. It’s amazing that this was made with a $1 million budget and it made back $225 million, won an three Oscar including best picture and has become a classic in the art of film. This film makes me smile and I love this film and inspired me to indulge myself in the art of film. Film Rating 9/10
30 Day Movie Challenge- Day 4 - A Movie that makes you sad- Up (2009) The whole film doesn’t make me sad, as always this is a Pixar film that has an uplifting powerful message but it’s the first 10 minutes that shows Carl and Ellie life. The reason why it is so sad is because they have this dream from childhood that they would live in a place called Paradise Falls in South America. But as their life goes on and they go through the typical life stages, get a house, get married and have children but unfortunately Ellie can’t have children so they try and saved up funds to make that trip to Paradise Falls. They almost get their as Carl brought two tickets but Ellie falls Ill and dies of Old age. This ends their two dreams of making a trip to Paradise Falls and brings Carl to a depressed and grumpy old man. The rest of the film is Carl realising that he is near old age after being evicted and sent to a care home, so it puts thousands of balloons on his home to fly to Paradise Falls. The reason why I love this movie and why it is so sad is that it handles such an adult subject matter but it presents it in such a way that people of all ages can understand. That’s what is perfect about Pixar, they do that so well. It hits home for me because I’ve made promises and dreams a few years ago to friends and family and as I’ve grown older the dreams and promises and friends start to fade away. It’s a perfect film and one of my favourite Pixar Movies well one of my favourite films. Film Rating- 8.5/10
