movie title: The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
director: Gabriele Muccino | writer: Steve Conrad
stars: Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Thandie Newton
genres: Biography, Drama
rating: PG-13
my score: 9.5 (IMDb: 7.8)

Having invested too much on a ‘technological luxury’, the Bone Density Scanner, that is too expensive for the slight improvement it gives, salesman Chris Gardner (Will Smith) dives into poverty, losing his wife and a place to stay while running around selling the machines with his 5-year-old son on his side. Interested by a job of a stockbroker, he applies for it, but has to go through 6 months of training and a written exam alongside his life conditions that keep worsening by the day.

Lately, I find that reading reviews that give low ratings are much more interesting than those that are just saying the same old thing for any good movie. Of course, generally speaking, and to be honest, same goes for me when I comment about good movies I’ve seen. It’s hard to give a really good analytical critic that admires a work in depth. Anyways, point said, I think I now have a habit of reading the top review (for a general grasp of the movie) and then some reviews that give low ratings before I watch said movie. I’d have a biased viewpoint, but I’d keep an eye out for the mentioned flaws. Indeed, that makes it seem like I’m purposely trying to miss out on the good points of the film, but in a way, when my expectations become so low, and I get something good instead, it would be like a good surprise. Something amongst those lines…

I remember reading something about how this movie was not trying to show how Chris Gardner was pursuing “Happyness” but that, rather, he was pursuing “money”, using the argument that money is definitely not equal to happiness, which hardly anyone can deny. However, after watching this, I think that superficially, yes he may be aiming for money, for the job of a stockbroker, but then again, he’s just looking for the reason for the smiles on other people’s faces. It’s not because you’re poor that you’d be happy. How are you supposed to think about being happy spiritually when you’re hungry as hell and when you have to pray not to end up sleeping overnight in a public toilet? He is in search of happiness, and it’s got to start with having a stable life. If you want anyone to be happy while they are running about, trying to pick up their life as if it were shattered pieces on the floor, then well, I’m sorry, but that’s harsh and insensible. There’s a difference between people who can be perfectly happy without being rich versus people who can’t settle down at all and have a tired, hungry child to raise and who’s looking to have a stable job in order to smile at life finally.

This movie was heartbreaking, and I had to burst into tears at the end. Will Smith did great acting, so did his son. It’s one of those movies where you’re just sitting there, shaking your head, biting down at your lower lip, wondering in awe how a person could go through this much. And this much without really complaining; to be real honest, he had so much he could just whine about. But he didn’t really. There are lots of memorable quotes in this movie too; it was a really nice film overall. As heartbreaking as it is, unlike say, The Grave of the Fireflies, I would definitely be much more able to rewatch this. It may be heart wrenching, but it is also beautifully heart warming.

RocknRolla – October 31, 2008
Starring: Gerard Butler, Mark Strong, Tom Hardy, Tom Wilkinson, Idris Elba, Thandie Newton, Toby Kebbell
Written and directed by: Guy Ritchie

The plot: “Lenny Cole, a London mob boss, puts the bite on all local real estate transactions. For substantial fees, he’s helping Uri Omovich, a Russian developer. As a sign of good faith, Omovich loans Cole a valuable painting, promptly stolen off Cole’s wall. While Cole’s men, led by the dependable Archie, look for the canvas, three local petty criminals, the Wild Bunch, steal money from the Russian using inside information from his accountant, the lovely Stella. Meanwhile, a local drug-addled rocker, Johnny Quid, is reported drowned, and his connection to Cole is the key to unraveling the deceits and double crosses of life in the underworld.” – IMDB

My thoughts: I need to make it clear that Guy Ritchie is one of my favorite writer/directors um…ever. I love the frenetic pace of his films, the soundtracks, and the characters he creates. I’m also a sucker for quick-witted Cockney criminals. So, RocknRolla was of course right up my alley.

Typically, Gerard Butler really bugs the shit out of me – he just comes off as being a misogynistic prick (personal opinion, I have no receipts to show for that), but I enjoyed him in this movie. But more than that? Tom Hardy was brilliant as Handsome Bob. There’s a certain twist to his character that makes him that much more enjoyable and entertaining to watch. And then there was the wonderful Idris Elba riding on a tiny motorbike wearing a tiger helmet.

This happens in this movie. Don't try to tell me you're not tempted.

Thandie Newton as…the only female in this movie was pretty badass. She had a very cool demeanor about her, the mastermind behind some money-making schemes and managing to get with Gerard in the meantime (and honestly, she’s gorgeous, so who would say no to her?) A prime bit of this movie is a scene in which she and Gerard awkwardly dance and discuss business in a manner that would look like it was a sexy exchange to a stranger watching from afar.

And finally, I can’t say enough about Toby Kebbell’s performance as Johnny Quid – a real rocknrolla. He’s a junkie to the max and artist at heart. He has some profound thoughts and steals the movie, undoubtedly. He captures the character perfectly, managing to make you sympathetic toward – maybe even to make you root for – the biggest mess-up in the movie. Also, he looks like my statistic teacher.

Really enjoyable. It still doesn’t touch Snatch in terms of awesomeness (because that cast/those characters/that soundtrack is flawless) but a really fun watch – deserving of another (or dozen) viewing.

Stars: 4.5/5

The plot: “Several stories interweave during two days in Los Angeles involving a collection of inter-related characters, a police detective with a drugged out mother and a thieving younger brother, two car thieves who are constantly theorizing on society and race, the white district attorney and his irritated and pampered wife, a racist white veteran cop (caring for a sick father at home) who disgusts his more idealistic younger partner, a successful Hollywood director and his wife who must deal with the racist cop, a Persian-immigrant father who buys a gun to protect his shop, a Hispanic locksmith and his young daughter who is afraid of bullets, and more.” martinlewison at IMDB.com

My thoughts: For the awards that it won and for how much people wouldn’t shut up about it, I really expected a phenomenal movie. All I heard was that it had so much meaning and such strong characters. And while the acting was quality throughout (I actually really loved Ludacris – I think he’s a pretty good actor), and some of the characters’ stories were interesting, I had one major complaint: the movie sure said a lot without really saying anything at all.

What I took away from the movie is that racial tensions are high in America (the world, to be honest) and that a lot of bad things come from being racist. As if we didn’t know this. There was no real ending to this movie and it’s message was so vague and open that I felt completely unfulfilled. Was I just supposed to understand that being racist is a bad thing? That we should learn to look past skin color and what country others come from? Because that’s all that I took away from the movie and I didn’t think it was an especially novel concept. A lot of movies deal with the same issue and do so in a more compelling way (American History X is just one example.)

Haggis spends so much time focusing on telling us that racism is bad, that he neglects to focus on gender roles, age, or social ranks. Jessie Daniels brings up a really good point regarding the women in the film. After Thandie Newton’s character is fondled by a white cop (played by Dillon), she is then involved in a car crash and he saves her. Daniels writes “her oppressor has now become her hero. After this “crash” we never see her character again to explore what the ramifications of this experience were for her, and she fades into the two-dimensional background of the story.”

I didn’t take away anything new from this movie. I can understand what Haggis was trying to do – he was trying to show us how racial tensions can impact people and ultimately, the roles we play in one another’s lives. For me, it was much too simplistic and obvious.

Also, the score was horribly annoying.

Stars 2/5

Conan The Barbarian – August 19, 2011
Starring: Jason Momoa, Rose McGowan, Ron Pearlman, and Rachel Nichols
Directed by: Marcus Nispel (Friday the 13th)
Written by: Thomas Dean Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, Sean Hood

“The tale of Conan the Cimmerian and his adventures across the continent of Hyboria on a quest to avenge the murder of his father and the slaughter of his village.” – IMDB

My thoughts: Will it be CGI’d to death, contrived, and full of plot holes/questionable dialogue? Absolutely. Is Jason Momoa hot? Is Rose McGowan awesome? Do I love outrageous stunts and over-the-top effects? Hell yes. So yeah, I’m going to see it. I’ll probably just end up trying to figure out who would win in a fight: Conan or Khal Drogo.

Retreat – 2011
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Thandie Newton, Jamie Bell
Directed by: Carl Tibbetts
Written by: Carl Tibbetts and Janice Hallett (both first time writers and directors)

“Kate and Martin escape from personal tragedy to an Island Retreat. Cut off from the outside world, their attempts to recover are shattered when a Man is washed ashore, with news of airborne killer disease that is sweeping through Europe.” – IMDB

My thoughts: I know how this entire movie is going to go and to be honest, I don’t care. I love Cillian Murphy (especially with his real accent this time) and Jamie Bell. Regardless of predictability, it is so on.

Martha Marcy May Marlene – July 10, 2011
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen (yes, as in Mary-Kate and Ashley’s little sister), Hugh Dancy, Sarah Paulson, and John Hawkes
Directed and written by: Sean Turkin

“Haunted by painful memories and increasing paranoia, a damaged woman struggles to re-assimilate with her family after fleeing an abusive cult.” – IMDB

My thoughts: This movie is already getting Oscar buzz and I’m a sucker for movies about cults. The cinematography looks gorgeous based on the trailer and I’m anticipating a sort of Hard Candy feeling – you know, stressed out, tense, a bit jumpy? And as always, I am attracted to one of the male leads. What can I say? I’m boy crazy!