Inside Out

Remember that one really great time in your life? No seriously. Think about it. Close your eyes smile and let that warm clean gooey feeling rush over you. Laughing so hard you can’t see straight, the tears blurring your vision, and your abs hurting worse than any P90X seems to be able to rip at them. The moment you stop laughing you look at your friend you start to giggle again and then boom, the encore begins. Best encore ever. Now take a break. Reset your emotional palate. Think of grocery store whole-wheat toast. Good. Now think of a moment where you were really anxious, nervous and worried. Blech, I can see them all looking at me. I don’t know exactly what to say. They didn’t laugh at my joke the way other people usually do, my minds racing. I don’t know where to go, what to do.


It’s amazing how powerful our memories and emotions are. Have you ever stopped to think what goes on behind all of it? Well, director Pete Doctor did in the innovative movie Inside Out.
The movie primarily focuses on 5 emotions inside 11-year-old, goofy, family oriented, hockey loving Riley. Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), and Sadness (Phyllis Smith). They operate out of Headquarters, powering Riley’s responses to life, creating memories and interacting to help Riley out in different situations. Riley’s Minnesotan¹ life is pretty good. Filled with lots of happy memories, including all of her 5 core memories, which power her different personality islands (Hockey Island, Goofball Island, Friendship Island, Honesty Island and Family Island).


But life throws a curve ball when Riley’s Father² has to move the family to San Francisco for a new tech start up. Things get more complicated when Sadness touches a previously happy memory and turns it sad, causing Riley to cry in front of her new classmates and Riley’s once totally happy life begins to take a turn with the production of her first sad core memory. The story further complicates when Joy and Sadness are sucked down a neural tube into Long Term Memory land along with Riley’s 5 core happy memories, shutting down her personality islands and leaving Anger, Fear and Disgust to run the show. Meanwhile Sadness and Joy must journey through the rest of


Riley’s brain to get back to Headquarters as quickly as possible so that Joy can bring happiness back to Riley.
Inside Out eloquently explores the perils of growing up with a unique perspective. Doctor focuses on Riley’s emotional maturing as the conflict rather than inserting a villain to push and challenge her. The overarching message is quite remarkable and one that I don’t think a lot of kids, let alone adults, hear enough: there’s a season and moment for everything. Growing, changing, and maturing aren’t just about being happy all the time. And sometimes life sucks³, but growth can still occur despite sadness, fear, anger, or disgust.

Pixar once again flexes their animation muscles combining fantastic art, story and enjoyable voice acting⁴ to create another classic in the realm of the Toy Story franchise, The Incredibles, and Up⁵. Inside Out is a must see and well worth the time, money and tears⁶.

Rating: 9/10

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1 Shout out to Minnesota!

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2Who does have nice sweater game.

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3Especially when you’re moving away from MN.

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4Keeping true to form with fun cameos and the classic John Ratzenberger.

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5Really I guess most of their movies could be listed here and it might have been easier to just list the ones that are phenomenal.

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6Because there probably will be tears a few times—plus it’s ok to be sad, guys!

Black Swan

In an entertainment industry filled with terrible thrillers directed by M Night and movies that entirely focus on the jumpiness to put you on edge Black Swan provides a guiding light for all in this forlorn thriller genre. Focusing on a young up and coming ballerina, Nina Sayers (portrayed by the always beautiful Natalie Portman), who is striving for prominence in her dance studio, especially in the new production of Swan Lake where the lead needs to portray the innocent white swan but also the seductive, evil black swan. Nina ends up the first choice by the Director, Thomas (played perfectly by Vincent Cassel), who reiterates her perfection in the innocent white swan but lack of ability to portray the seductive black swan. Thomas points to newcomer Lily (Mila Kunis) and the way she carries herself on the dance floor as inspiration for Nina. As Nina battles with her attempt to fit into the darker role of the black swan a quirky relationship is formed with her competition, Lily. Nina continues throughout battling to keep the transformation as vocation as possible, keeping it from seeping into and destroying her personal life.


Going into Black Swan I had heard a lot of hype surrounding it (which is partially why I justified spending over $5 on it) and the hype was without a doubt backed 100%. There was not a weak link in the cast’s chain as everyone performed well and played their part to a T involving the viewer’s emotions and opinions throughout their performance. Even though I found Black Swan slightly predictable I was very impressed with how advancements were carried out and absolutely adored the score, which utilized slight alterations to the already flawless Tchaikovsky masterpiece intertwining it with the movie perfectly. But the best part maybe the undertones the movie provides allowing for discussion as well entertainment (something every good movie should contain). To top it all off the cinematography and visual effects of this movie really benefit the thriller aspect, making it not just a jump fest (although there were moments). Bringing back the psych part to the psychological thriller, culminating thoughts and ideas racing through your mind as the plot expands and reveals more. Black Swan didn’t disappoint me and I don’t think it will disappoint many others either, proving a trip to the theaters will not be in vein.


Overall Rating: 9 out of 10

Dinner For Schmucks

What do you get when you mix Paul Rudd, Steve Carrell with a little timely sprinkle of Zach Galifianakis? You end up with a man attempting to move up the totem pole of his dog-eat-dog job; in order to solidify his position he must compete with other higher up coworkers in finding and bringing the best schmuck to dinner so they can all laugh at them. His man of choice is a socially and ultimately just flat out awkward taxidermist (Carrell) enthusiast who is particularly fond of mice, dead ones. He then decorates them and sets them up in different dioramas (which are all rather clever, but you obviously can tell why he’s chosen for the schmuck dinner) all this as a hobby. Rudd’s long time girlfriend strongly disagrees with this idea and as he attempts to decide what to do with the dinner and his schmuck of choice his schmuck of choice and him end up in a heap of trouble; mainly caused by Carrell’s amazingly uncanny ability to screw things up character. A relationship almost ends, audits are handed out, crazy ex mistakes reappear, mind control (and brain control) is witnessed and lots of dead mice are dressed and stuffed.



Dinner for Schmucks scored big time for me, I found myself laughing at almost every joke that was thrown to the audience. Carrell’s awkwardness is priceless and different; although you can somewhat see Michael Scott in this character, which is why I think he plays this part so well. Paul Rudd plays much of a similar role as that in “I Love You, Man”, a man on a quest who also contains some very awkward moments that leave you laughing but embarrassed at the same time (slightly like the man kiss scene in I Love You, Man). This all works flawlessly as I saw no problem with any of the acting or writing and Zach Galifianakis’ cameo is quite funny clashing pleasantly well with Carrell’s character. A few “Flight of the Conchords” characters also make appearances as well, which all blend well together in this hilarious summer comedy. What’s also nice is that among the hilarity there is some seriousness mixed in where you feel an emotion other than happiness or giddiness adding attachment to the movie not just making it all about the humor. This movie is definitely worth going to in theaters especially if you’re looking for something to cheer you up or are just in the mood to laugh.





Over All Rating: 8 out of 10

Inception

Forget everything you know about dreams if you plan on seeing this summer blockbuster, clear your minds and prepare to see digital effects take yet another step forward in cinema. Although “Inception” is not just completely held up by CG (unlike some movies…) solid acting performances—especially by DiCaprio, again—are held together by feasible chemistry and interaction between an array of actors (some well known, others not as much), they make you feel like a more perfect group could not have been assembled. Christopher Nolan continues his amazing writing in yet another movie keeping you on the edge of your seat guessing what is going to happen next. All this is done at a pace that keeps you trying to remember and keep up, although this is fun and entertaining it doesn’t let some of the story develop much, but it works because the pace rarely slows.



The movie follows Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) a heist man who steals information—with the help of Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) a close friend who doesn’t have much else described about him—from people through entering their dreams and stealing the desired information from the vaults within their subconscious (that are stored in the persons dream). But in order to get back to his family he has one last job. Instead of stealing information he and his team of people (an architect—who creates the dream’s landscape—Ariadne (Ellen Paige), a chemist—who helps develop sedatives to allow deeper sleep for dream contortion—Yusuf (Dileep Rao), a forger—who imitates others—Eames (Tom Hardy) and a funder—who is the man behind the whole thing promising Cobb’s his family life back—Saito (Ken Watanabe)) must plant an idea and let that inception grow, becoming that persons own.



Overall this movie works pretty well, although trying to entirely explain and critique this movie is slightly difficult after one viewing (I will probably end up seeing it again). “Inception” is a movie that although there is vast amounts of entertainment in it could have gone deeper with character development (besides Cobb) and their relationships, although the story works, it could have been enhanced and dwelled upon more. This being said, the movie is enthralling and I enjoyed it very much, it works the way it is now, actions scenes are intense and well choreographed and cinematography is amazing. Altogether this movie is still worth the price to see in theaters, but be prepared to be confused and possibly a second trip back if you want to get your mind wrapped around the whole thing, this movie is not for the weak minded and easily distracted.



Overall rating: 8.5 out of 10

Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3
Previous to Toy Story 3 Pixar has opened the box office as the #1 movie every (10 of them). This streak has to come to an end and Pixar has to produce a “bad” movie sooner or later and Toy Story 3 had me a little worried, to be honest. I love Pixar movies especially the Toy Story series so I approached Toy Story 3 tentatively. I was concerned that Toy Story 3 would not live up to the quality or entertainment level of the previous 2 and it would tarnish the trilogy completely.

Thankfully all my worries were washed away very quickly upon the opening of the movie. The movie shortly follows the toys life with Andy as he grows up until he is college aged and moving out. With Andy’s cleaning out of his room before his move to college, his old toys end up donated at Sunnybrook and in the Caterpillar room with the younger, destructive kids at the daycare. After a few days of rough treatment and beatings they are finally convinced that Woody was right and they need to get back to Andy.

The movie keeps much of the old crew (even Slinky, whose voiced actor passed away in 2000—they found a replacement that fits very well) and introduces some new very funny characters that end up adding a ton to the story and fun. The movie provoked many emotions and had the same feel as later 2. I left the theater 100% satisfied and wanting to watch it again ASAP. This is a definite don’t miss and will hopefully close out the Toy Story saga with a bang (baring they don’t make a Toy Story 4; but they are working on a Toy Story short film that will be released with Cars 2).

Overall Rating: 9 out of 10

Get Him to the Greek

Apatow production strikes again with their release of the newest comedy, Get Him to the Greek, which continues Forgetting Sarah Marshall’s story line of rock star Aldous Snow (played by Russell Brand). Jonah Hill (playing Aaron Green) also stars in Get Him to the Greek but picking up as a character that works in the music business under his boss Sergio (played by Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs). The movie uses the same type of humor that are seen in all previous Apatow movies, but keeps it interesting with the new story line but with a few familiar characters.
Aldous Snow is the only person who plays the same role finds himself in the downward fall of his career after producing a racist album leading to his divorce of his wife, return to alcoholism and drugs and finally his fall from stardom. Upon Sergio deciding that a 10th anniversary concert of Aldous live at the Greek theater in LA would boost revenue Aaron Green is then sent to pick him up and bring him the Greek. Then enters pandemonium, which may remind you of the Hangover slightly. Ultimately the movie highlights Aaron Green and Aldous Snow’s growing relationship from fan/rocker to friends.
I found myself laughing frequently at most jokes with few exceptions. P. Diddy provided a hilarious twist to the cast surprising me with his comic ability and Brand did what he does best, act crazy but being a riot at the same time. To top it all of I actually found Jonah Hill funny at times, not annoying or stupid (although he was annoying and stupid sometimes, just not throughout the whole movie), which was a pleasant surprise. All in all this entire movie was pretty funny and had some memorable moments that will surely cause you to leave the theater talking and laughing about.


Overall Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Avatar

With all the hype around “Avatar”, I’m here to set the record straight. Expectations have run high because of “Avatar’s” record-breaking $300 million plus budget and the likes of a big name director James Cameron who was involved in “Titanic”, “Aliens” and “Terminator,” all highly touted science fiction movies.

“Avatar’s” plot is nothing special, original, or anything to get excited about. Imagine a twisted “Pocahontas”/”Fern Gully” with a paraplegic man, Jake Sully, who controls a body of a Na'vi (the natives to the planet), created by scientists called Avatars, to infiltrate the Na'vi clan and get them to leave so the precious metals at the base of it can be harvested. But along the way Sully falls in love with the Na'vi’s way of life and coincidentally, the chief’s daughter. Then, when diplomacy fails and the human military gets involved, Sully needs to take up a side and decides who matters the most to him.

Cameron’s “Avatar” has very impressive CG, much like that of “District 9” but this is expected when $300 million is put into it. The plot is weak and the 3D effects weren’t necessary and didn’t add much; I’d rather have seen it in 2D. Also, the movie runs 2½ hours and dragged at times, not moving the plot forward much at all, although the plot wasn’t completely awful - but I could have been much better. The character’s half CG-ed, half-live acting was without a doubt the strongest point of the movie, intermixing and functioning very well together. A close second to the CG was the cinematography, which at times, was breathtaking. This winter blockbuster failed to live up to all the hype and attention paid to it. Although it was a solid movie, I expected more and because it’s only in 3D, be prepared to spend and extra $3-4 for the glasses.


Overall Rating: 7.5 out of 10