Her Review: Dating in the Future is Complicated…

Theodore Twombly is a character that’s married to Rooney Mara, his best friend is Amy Adams, he goes on dates with Olivia Wilde and… Scarlett Johansson is in love with him. But despite what you may think this is not a story about being the luckiest man in the world…

Okay so maybe I left out some critical information about the plot… Lets try again. Theodore Twombly played by Joaquin Phoenix lives in a future Los Angeles but this future is not that dissimilar from our own. In this future though it seems we spend more time talking to our phones than we do to other people. And as such, feels like a science fiction film grounded in a 21^st century reality.

Director Spike Jonze has done a remarkable job of creating a cognitive film that contemplates what our contemporary antisocial dependence on technology is doing to our essential innate human need to be social and have healthy relationships. In doing so feels like and eerie realisation of a future that awaits us.

Theodore, being a quirky and sensitive individual with the interpersonal skills to relate to the emotions of others. Works the peculiar job of writing hand written letters for people that can't properly express themselves.

After suffering a devastating mid life break up with his wife Catharine, he struggles deeply to pick up the pieces of his life. Phoenix does a fantastic job of portraying a very lonely, depressed and disillusioned protagonist. Whose fear and vulnerability in relationships is something you empathise with throughout the film.

Reclusive, he becomes intrigued in OS1, the worlds very first artificially intelligent operating system with its own conscience. Samantha the Siri like OS, huskily voiced by Scarlett Johansson is the most interesting character in the film. Samantha’s personality is nothing short of amazing. She is friendly, funny and it is genuinely great to hear her interact with Theodore. Unlike older operating systems in this world she has intuition and is constantly learning from her experiences with humans. 

The film revolves around them both having a relationship and asks the question what is our relationship with technology? And what is our responsibility to it? Olivia Wilde has a real small role as Theodore’s date that goes horribly wrong but she is instrumental in progressing the film to where Theodore can open up to Samantha and they can become intimate in a natural (if disembodied) way.

Of course Samantha doesn’t have a body, this is the big contention you have to deal with. The film never addresses the need to define Samantha as an avatar or even turn her into a robot, which I think it works better for. During the relationship Jonze seems to contend that love is the connection between psyches and, if anything, looks are not a large factor in true love.

You definitely feel uneasy about the relationship but I found it interesting societies reaction to the relationships of A.I's and humans is one of complete acceptance. Its true your enjoyment of film will be hampered if you are unable to conceive an AI conciseness but Samantha does become the positive influence Theodore needs to pull him out of his melancholy. When he asks if it’s wrong or right? I think that his best-friend Amy, played by Amy Adams, seems to sum it up: "we're only here briefly. And while I'm here, I wanna allow myself joy. So f**k it."

The only person in the film to challenge the AI relationship is his wife played by Rooney Mara. In an excellent scene where they come together to sign divorce papers she says he can’t handle real emotions. And we find out through the film she’s somewhat right. Theodore's ex-wife's "volatile" emotions can be seen as a main reason as to why the relationship did not work, yet tragically he feels too much of a connection to her. (she was his life-long friend) 

In comparison Samantha as an AI is pure and innocent. She is completely new to relationships, she has no insecurity, no self doubt. Unlike the real women in his life there is no human baggage. Theodore is mistaken however in thinking that Samantha is any less complicated to date. She to develops her own insecurities, in particular about not having a body. While Theodore soon starts to feel uncomfortable and doubt if it can really work.

They say that love is giving someone the power to destroy you… but trusting them not to. Theodore can’t fully commit to the responsibility and the sacrifices needed in maintaining love. Dealing with real emotions (in the give and take of a relationship) he cowers. These flaws make him his own worst enemy, leading him to destroy what he loves most.

I don’t want to spoil anymore of the plot here. I deliberately missed out some of the best moments of the film so you have the enjoyment of exploring them for yourselves. When it all comes down to it, this film is not really about technology or the future; it’s about adult relationships and complex emotions. There is a lot here to self reflect on, no matter what stage you are at in your life. Solidarity, searching for the fullness and richness love brings to life, confronting past regrets and failings and seeking acceptance and forgiveness in the love of another.

After the credits, I found myself questioning things in my own life that either don't make sense or don't have to make sense. Like love and thoughts and emotions. They're all so natural and yet none of us truly understand how they work. I thought about the adaptation process we all go through and the highs and lows that change us and make us grow.

I watched all the Oscar films this year but this one was the only film I felt the need to write about in any real detail. It is definitely a writer’s film in the way it tackles the human condition and deservers to win best original script. The film has great cinematography and an excellent score and is surprisingly funny and heart warming at times.

Boydee Blog Rating: 4/5 foul-mouthed video game alien children

Black Swan Review: Beautifully Terrifying



The movie I’m most excited about this year is about ballet?...

Black Swan is a fascinating portrayal of self obsession that eventually leads main character Nina Sayers into complete madness for the pursuit of perfection. Natalie Portman’s performance is outstanding and really carries the film through with intensity. It’s clear she really trained hard for this and plays a remarkably believable part of the New York ballet production of Swan Lake.

Although consumed with her dance she is kind and good natured, who wants to be the best and never disappoint anyone. Including her smothering theatre mother, who gave up ballet to have a daughter and still holds it against her by projecting most of her own flaws on to her. The movie does a good job of subtly implying most of the tension in their relationship with Nina’s history of cutting and scratching alluded to, without beating you over the head with it.

If the stress of home wasn’t enough for this character she still has to deal with pressure of getting the coveted role of the Swan Queen, something she has trained most of her life for. The problem comes with the duality of the role, no one can argue her technical prowess exceeds the other ballet dancers. Her trainer Thomas Leroy (based on Balanchine) believes she is in fact the perfect embodiment of the White Swan, virginal and fearful.

The Black Swan however is the temptress, the seducer of the audience, something she has no experience of and requires letting go of the strict technical disciplines she’s focused on. The trainer notices many of the Black Swans characteristics in another dancer Lily who’s wild and fearless nature make her reckless technically, but exciting to watch.

Lily is not only a rival but a vision of what she must become to be the Black Swan, in essence Nina is trying to find herself as a woman and it means giving up her innocence and control. The Black swan becomes a second Identity of Nina and is a horrifying, unrelenting presence that is constantly out to change who she is.

Watching Nina degenerate through the nightmarish cinematography can only be described as beautifully terrifying and while heart breaking to watch what happens to this beautiful loving girl it’s fascinating at the same time. Director Darren Aronofsky who up until now I have had a hard time not mentioning is nothing less than a visionary independent film maker. This is a director that’s never not made a great film in his career and his movies are cult classics in their own right.

Just look at his body of work!!! Pii 1998, Requiem of Dream 2000, The Wrestler 2008, Black Swan 2010. If you look at all these films though they have one single main theme in them and that is self destruction. Something Aronofsky has a better grasp on than any director in Hollywood. It's rather crushing though to think that a director with so much talent had to fight to get each one of these films to be made. At least now he’s starting to get the recognition he deserves with an Oscar worthy film.

Black Swan is smart edge of your seat entertainment but if you are not familiar with Aronofsky’s other work it may leave you shell shocked. Working in a Cinema I love watching the silhouetted faces jaws dropp watching this film. When it ends they are left to process what they have watched and have a hard time really putting it into words. This is not feel good entertainment; it’s a thinking man’s film. That said I would recommend you watch Requiem of Dream first If you havent already as its probably the most talked about Aronofsky film and a must see.

This is not a ballet film it’s a psychological thriller that borders on horror. Tchaikovsky score will get your heart beating but extensively its Natalie Portman’s 110% go for broke performance that really holds the film together and makes it a worthwhile watch.

Boydee Blog Rating: 5/5 scary toenail clippings

Somewhere Theres A Movie Review Here



Decembers here as we start to head into an Oscar season of films. One of those films I’ve been particularly interested in is Somewhere. Directed by Sofia Coppola, director of Lost in Translation and  the daughter of Francis Ford Coppola, who you may know as the director of the Godfather and Apocalypse Now. Wow! Talk about a tough act to follow.

This film first appeared on my radar when I found out that Stephen Dorff was playing the lead. He’s just such a great actor if you’ve not seen the small independent film he's in called Entropy I'd recommend it. However he’s probably better known as the bad guy in Blade. Despite this he rarely gets many great parts so I was really glad to see him get a lead role in a Coppola film.

In ‘Somewhere’ he plays Johnny Marco a Hollywood actor who on the surface looks to have everything but in reality lives a monotonous, tired existence in room 59 of the Chateau Marmont hotel. About all he can do to stave off his boredom is drive around in his black Ferrari or get drunk at party and have sex with anything wanting to latch on to his fame, these relationships are empty and impersonal at best.

Even with all his money his lifestyle has become boring and routine. It couldn’t be summed up better than in a scene where two bronzed, blond twin’s pole dance at the foot of his bed while the Foo Fighters - My Hero plays in the background. Instead of thinking what a lucky guy, he’s living the dream! You get this long drawn out scene that’s shallow and awkward, you uncomfortably watch the dull played out choreography which you can tell has been a regular occurrence for Johnny as he humorously drifts asleep before they even finish their routine.

Its only when he wakes up one morning with his daughter drawing on his plaster cast that we genuinely see him smile for the first time as she breathes new life into his stuffy air conditioned existence. He avoids telling her the truth of how he broke his arm of course as he was drunk at a party with his friend Sammy (played by Chris Pontius, A.K.A. Party Boy from Jackass!!!) this being one of the many lies he has to tell to hide his lifestyle.

His daughter Cleo played by Elle Fanning is charming and confident, having a rich Dad means she’s spoilt but she doesn’t act it. She’s so together with her life even at such a young age while her father struggles to get through every day. Being the only pure good thing he has you can see the crushing shame on his face as he has to deal with the guilt of being adolescent father who was never there.

When Cleo is in his life it starts to make sense again and brings some clarity to all the bullshit adult crap pulling him down. Its truly joyous just watching their bond strengthen as they play like kids in a swimming pool while The Strokes - I’ll Try Anything Once plays in the background. (Chokes me up just watching the trailer)

Going with the Strokes was a real smart move as Julian Casablancas has that dense sounding voice that is still raw and iconic but more importantly his lyrics are all about going through the same fame and disillusionment as the father is.

So far I’ve probably given this movie a glowing review but be warned its painfully slow and there’s very little dialogue making it really unsatisfying at times when characters don’t open up. It’s realistic however and it maintains this realism throughout but at the cost of nothing spectacular really happening, it’s why I can give away so much of the plot and not really spoil anything.

The main thing portrayed though is the disconnect that happens when you live a life of isolation and unfulfillment. Life loses meaning and every day you push away from yourself, losing grip of your ability to relate and gain the richness from others. (Something he now only finds in his daughter) This leads to a self destructive process of wanting to do anything to distract himself from his own thoughts in an effort to not come to terms with the pain, something I know all too well.

It’s only when Johnny confronts these thoughts head on after not being in the company of his daughter that he has a mental break down and realises all the distractions and casual sex he puts in front of himself only make his life more numb and pointless. In the middle of his breakdown, he says on the phone "I'm not even a person" he is right, because what defines a person is his/her ability to experience, to be fully receptive to the whole spectrum of emotions. He has to get away from his life style if he ever wants to be a person again and grow up to be a better father.

This movie is not for everyone I like it but most will hate it and be bored stiff. I couldn’t have been more excited to watch this film but even I felt really frustrated at the tedium. I was also disappointed that the movie was so lacking at times but there’s something here and its in the subtle moments, that say so much, without saying anything at all.

Boydee Blog Rating: 2.5/5 under water tea cup drinkage



Scott Pilgrim, Loves A Game

There’s a lot to like about Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, it may not be a perfect movie but there has certainly been a great deal of care in its production. Most people don’t even realise since they never bother to mention it in any UK trailer or poster that this movie is actually directed by Edgar Wright!!! Director of Shawn of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.

Michael Cera plays Scott Pilgrim a bass player in the band Sex Bob Bomb who despite having an Asian girlfriend falls head over heels for Ramona Flowers. (That girl with a rocky past) Michael Cera seems to get tight cast in teen romance comedies like Juno and the great Youth in Revolt. You can see why though he’s hilarious in any awkward situation you put him in and he plays his insecure weak persona so well you can’t help feel the pain he goes through in those movies.

However in this movie his character is very different, certainly not instantly likeable, he’s self centred and kind of an asshole. The starting setup was rather slow but thankfully when it ramps up it really ramps up and suddenly his whole life turns into a Comic book/Video game literally!

If you didn’t already know Scott Pilgrim is based on a comic book and no movie in history has been as faithful to the source material like this. The movie uses a lot of frantic cuts like you’re going from one frame to another and fantastically spells out things with huge letters when punches and kicks are delivered and even emotions felt. There are so many retro video game references that are so charming and well thought out I was amazed!

The movie is basically centred on the 7 evil X-boyfriends of Ramona Flowers who Scott Pilgrim has to fight in order to win her love. They are all uniquely different with their own fighting style to go with it. The evil X I thought was most genius was Todd Ingram played by Brandon Routh, (Superman) he probably got the hardest laugh throughout the entire movie as he plays a pretentious vegan who has psychic powers.

There something really compelling to me about turning someone’s reality into a comic book because it becomes so much more revealing to a characters identity when nothing is hidden. I mean you don’t need a psychological degree to understand what is going on in each person’s head because it’s shown to you in such an exaggerated detail.

In real life there would probably only be a subtle facial cue or an argument that would break out when meeting someone’s ex. In this movie it’s a round house kick to the face or hadoken uppercut through a ceiling, it’s so brutally honest you've gotta love it.

The movie is really funny and action packed but beneath all the crazy action and whacky humour there is a deep social commentary which I found quite fascinating as I could see certain traits in people I knew and more uncomfortably in myself.

I left the cinema deciphering what the movie would have been if it wasn’t a comic book and more surprisingly I found myself taking a hard look at myself at times and realising just how shallow I had been at certain times in my life. People don’t like to see their own imperfections so maybe they won’t identify with Scott Pilgrims shallowness or Ramona Flowers heart breaking nature.

In fact most won’t go looking for any of this stuff as the oddball humour holds up for itself but if you do its a smarter movie than it would seem on the surface. It’s just a real shame to see it doing so poorly at the box office when its one of the most well produced films this month.

Boydee Blog Rating: 4/5 epic bass lines.

Toy Story 3 Makes Me Feel 5 Years Old Again!!!

It’s amazing to think Toy Story came out in 1995 when I was just 5 years old. I remember watching in awe as this new 3D technology was like nothing I had ever seen before. So detailed! So, so shiny! O_O THE CLAW!!!!

It’s 2010 now and I’m 20 years of age. I have grown up at the same rate as Andy in the movie, a concept in itself that is really cool but it also means I have this strong emotional connection to the series even as 20 year old. I can't really explain it I just know it hits me hard deep down, like somewhere between the pancreas and the small intestine? To the point of me saying this could arguably be one of the best film trilogies in history!

Take a look at this graph I made which uses incredibly complex science you would never be able to understand. (I looked at ra-view websites yea, and den I put de numbers in da graph usein da Photoshop.) To show you what popular opinion was when some of the most important trilogies where made.

As you already probably know figures, never lie... especially ones that are made up on the spot! And as you can see from my graph Toy Story as a trilogy has consecutively and continuously in successesion been progressively and sequentially... Good. I can't overstate that enough, even though I just did. So let’s move on!

The significance of Toy Story in animation is big, real big. Think of it as a Tsunami that changed the animation world forever. In the end Disney had no choice but to acquire Pixar, to save its animation empire. Yea Disney! You might have heard of them there only the biggest animation pioneers of our parent’s generation.

Steve Jobs with 50% of the Pixar market share was able to kick down the door of Disney, put a gun in the Disney Chairman’s mouth and say "Show me the money or I’m walking BIT*%!!" (Obviously that’s not quite... How it happened I just like the idea that Steve Jobs is a ridiculously violent individual that you wouldn't want to mess with.)

I guess I like Pixar because they have always cared about what they create for example during the production of Toy Story 2 they decided that the sequel just didn’t measure up to the original so they went and remade the movie. Rewriting the entire script! Some of the animators even got repetitive strain injuries just trying to complete it within the 9 month deadline Disney had pushed on them. Now that's dedication and it shows in everything they do.

It’s so much more than the 3D hook that enabled Pixar to succeed. It was the full package of multi dimensional characters, compelling story telling and their ability to cater to both young and old.

Toy Story 3 doesn’t disappoint in these areas, in some respects it has to tell the hardest story of them all. What happens when you outgrow your toys? I’m not going to go into plot specifics because there is no real point. It definitely left me with a warm fuzzy feeling after watching it.

This was supposed to be a review but why review perfection? Just go see it!

Boydee Blog Rating: 5/5 New Infinities and Beyond!