Movie #414 - A Life Less Ordinary

A Life Less Ordinary

1997 - Rated R - 1 hr 43 min
Director: Danny Boyle
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Ewan McGregor, Holly Hunter, Delroy Lindo, Ian McNiece, Stanley Tucci, Tony Shalhoub, Ian Holm

Weird movie, this one.  Weird, but weirdly cute too. Diaz and McGregor are an unlikely pair -- although their respective hair-dos are both awesomely 90s-tastic! -- who find themselves in very unlikely circumstances. Mainly, as kidnapper and kidnappee... although it's not always clear which of them is which.

Anyway, the whole angels-meddling-in-the-business-of-love bit turns this regular rom-com into something otherworldy, full of strange scenarios where Hunter and Lindo (the love angels assigned to the couple) are either trying too hook them up or kill them.  If they don't get these two together, they're doomed to a life stuck on earth. Bummer.

There is indeed as much going on here as the above synopsis suggests, and somehow, the movie doesn't get bogged down.  The plot moves along at a good clip, with lots of great scenes, and some actually believable scenes between our young lovers.  It's cute. Weird, like I said, but cute.

Movie #381- From Hell

From Hell
2001 - Rated R - 2 hr 2 min
Directors: Albert & Allen Hughes
Starring: Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, Ian Holm, Robbie Coltrane, Ian Richardson, Jason Flemyng

More Johnny Depp!  (And more deleted posts that I have to rewrite and try to make sound good again. argh!)

Based on the Alan Moore graphic novel of the same name, this one's set with the Jack the Ripper story as its backdrop.  Really, it centers on a broken investigator who needs the case to really prove to himself he's worth something.  Enter Heather Graham as Mary Kelly, the prostitute most famously known for being the Ripper's final -- and goriest -- murder.  Hooray.  Of course, she's cooperating with Depp and they fall for each other. Of course. 

Leave it to Moore to turn a grim, gruesome bit of history into a love story.

Still, it's very, very good... just not necessarily accurate.  They blame the Freemasons --- or rather, a Freemason -- and I'm sure that doesn't help their reputation much. Don't believe it though, because Freemasons didn't kill prostitutes, guys. That's just nuts.

Movie #221 - Garden State

Garden State
2004 - Rated R - 1 hr 42 min
Director: Zach Braff
Starring: Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Ian Holm, Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Weston, Jim Parsons, Jean Smart, Method Man, Geoffrey Arend

With Zach Braff writing, directing, and starring in this movie, you'd think it would get more self-indulgent than it does. On the contrary, it's a well-balanced movie that takes two confused people, struggling on their own, and puts them together.  Their relationship develops fast but at a pace that still seems realistic and the connection between them is clear.  If nothing else, Braff and Natalie Portman create perfect chemistry.  At times, you feel like you're watching something almost too personal.

And even though mental health plays such a big part in Braff's character, it doesn't overtake the movie.  It's just background noise that sets up much of the action, but it never takes away from the romance piece.  These characters grow individually together and it's heartwarming to watch.

Movie #202 - The Fifth Element

The Fifth Element
1997 - Rated PG-13 - 2 hr 6 min
Director: Luc Besson
Starring: Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Ian Holm, Gary Oldman, Chris Tucker, Luke Perry

Ha! Oh, this movie.  It's like campy sci-fi and, in my experience, people either love it or hate it.  Which side of the fence do you fall on?

So, Bruce Willis plays McLane in space, from what I can tell.  And what is Milla Jovovich? Why is she beaming throughout this entire movie? And why is her hair orange? Anybody? Bueller?

Gary Oldman has a Southern accent. Are you aware of this?

Mostly, this movie is a big mess. But I guess it's so bad, that it's kinda funny.  And it gets in your brain somehow and the next thing you know, you're walking around saying "mooolty pahsss."

Movie #191 - eXistenZ

eXistenZ
1999 - Rated R - 1 hr 37 min
Director: David Cronenberg
Starring: Jude Law, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ian Holm, Willem Dafoe, Christopher Eccleston, Sarah Polley

Last of the E's and it's a good one too! It's been a good six or so years since I've sat down to watch this classic mind-twist movie. Then game-within-a-game-within-a-game that goes on to an Inception-level of intricacy.  Jennifer Jason Leigh is fantastic as Allegra Gellar, the "game designer" (or is she?) And Jude Law is so young, it's adorable.

I can't say too much without giving this plot away. But gaming has gone to an all-new level in this futuristic movie.  You "port in" through a "bio-port" directly into your spine. The concept makes me shiver just thinking about it.  But that's how you play the game, so everyone has a bio-port and people don't do any real activities anymore, since you can now simulate just about everything in your mind.  Cool concept. Possibly a real prediction of our future. I guess we'll have to see.

In the mean time, watch this one if you like twists, mind games, and intrigue.  Enjoy!

Movie #152 - The Day After Tomorrow

The Day After Tomorrow
Twentieth Century Fox
2004 - Rated PG-13 - 2 hr 4 min
Director: Roland Emmerich
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Emmy Rossum, Sela Ward, Ian Holm

In this first attempt to destroy the world, Roland Emmerich freezes the northeast in a flash blizzard the likes of which has not been seen since wooly mammoths walked the earth.  Dennis Quaid can't save us all, but he'll save his son from the New York Public Library.  If he doesn't freeze first.

Doom, destruction, and general mayhem.  Could this be our future? Emmerich posits through this cinematographical adventure.  If it is, I want Quaid headed in my direction.