Me Trying to Catch Up on Critically Acclaimed Movies: The Sessions aka "The Serious 40 Year Old Virgin"

Even though I said I was back....this time I actually am broadcasting live from New York City.

My summer adventures have unfortunately left a huge dent in my actual viewing of current films but here I am, getting back on track.

My roommate recently let me borrow "The Sessions" starring John Hawkes and Helen Hunt. The film follows a 40 something man with Polio leaving from the neck up mobile. He basically realizes he doesn't want to be a virgin his whole life (so basically there's nothing wrong with him mentally) and he hires a sex surrogate (Hunt) to help him do the deed. 

It's the touching...not funny... kinda fucked up version of "The 40 Year Old Virgin". 

Overall, the film was great. Hawkes is unrecognizable as Mark. His portrayal of a severely disabled man with a certain charm that woos women. This is unlike any other story media has portrayed, which for a human rights perspective, is inspiring. Hunt takes on a daring role as a sex surrogate and handles it with grace and professionalism that shines throughout the film. The small cast of dedicated actors really catapulted this story into an entertaining, well made movie. 

My conclusion? Definitely worth a rental.

Rental Reviews: Looper & Perks

Looper

Now it is very apparent my undying love for Joseph Gordon Levitt, he is incredibly talented, charming, and a face to call home. I will admit, Looper looked a bit confusing, but I love thrillers, add a little sci-fi in there, all the better! Unfortunately, this combination was unimpressive. The film had nice camera shots, a really interesting set design of what 2044 is going to look like, but the acting and story really hurt this film. Joseph Gordon Levitt's the main character, there was no entertainment/ likability to his character at all! If you are going for the blockbuster action/ sci-fi flick, it is essential to have a protagonist the audience can relate to. Along with the questionable main character, Bruce Willis comes into the picture as the older version of Joseph Gordon Levitt.... and Bruce Willis is god awful. Can this man only look intimidating and kill people? This film really showcases his range as an actor! He has minimal lines, and has blood all over his face for the majority of the film...cool Bruce Willis, you are really manly. Talk about a dumb/ confusing storyline... time traveling assassins? Hell yeah, I'll take it... but once you had the "rainmaker" and super powers....you lose me. The end of the film, wasn't awful, it's no "Safe Haven"..... but it was, as I said earlier, unimpressive.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

After watching 2 awful films this weekend, I needed something to restore my faith in films. I had heard nothing but good things about Perks, and maybe I went into the film with high expectations. I'll admit I was a little disappointed at first, then the movie began to sink in, and I started to cry like a baby. Besides Emma Watson's horrendous attempt at an American Accent, the film was well made, very emotional, and dangerous. Logan Lerman gives a stellar performance (wish he was nominated for tonight) but he's the leading man this film needed. The whole cast shines as it depicts the ruthlessness of loneliness and high school. To say the least, this film is emotional and raw and true, but I felt unsettled at the end. The resolution was real, we don't actually know how Charlie is going to turn out, but we know how he felt at that moment, which is something movies don't do often. In most films, we can infer the fate of our protagonists through the denouement, but in this film, it focuses on the present (in the world of the story). I think that's what what made this film beautiful for me, it was philosophical for younger generations, and challenges viewers to do some introspection.