Day 146

Movie: Shame
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan
Genre: Drama
Year: 2011
Format: Shaw Video On Demand

Plot: A man living alone in New York battling sex addiction has his life thrown into chaos when his younger sister moves in with him. Soon the two are threatening each others sanity.

This film is sexual without being sexy.  The first 6 minutes feels like a time loop, as it sets the plot of the lead character's life with the same scene inter-cut of him walking around the apartment naked.
It's a brave film on many levels, one being the obvious, which is the full frontal nudity for most of it.
On the surface, this film seems like it's about the addiction itself, but after a few minutes, you realize it's a love story between the two siblings; one that is never completely explained.

It's confusing and grown up but dark and cold at the same time.  Fassbender plays his scenes with Mulligan with the strangled discomfort of a man who is thrown into a dark tunnel. There is a creepy sense of controlled passion between the two siblings, which comes through most when Mulligan's character climbs into bed with him and he screams at her to leave, but does not physically remove her.  It's as if he's terrified to touch her.

The undertone of this film just kept reminding me of the movie American Psycho, there was just the same cold mask of control to it.

What do I think I learned from this film?
We're all in the dark looking for a light and a soft spot to land. 

Day 145

Movie: The Man in the Iron Mask
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeremy Irons,
Genre: Action, Drama,
Year: 1998
Format: TV EDIT

Plot: The Musketeers have been pulled back into action in order to save France once again, this time from their own king.  They know about the king's twin brother who's been held prisoner for the last 6 years, and begin getting him ready for the throne.

This is based on the novel.

Not a lot to say about this, other then beautiful costumes, some nice sword fights- I'm a sucker for a movie with sword fights- and a killer performance by Jeremy Irons.
I know everyone seems to go ga-ga for DiCaprio, and I have to hand him the credit of being able to pull off two very different characters just with a look in his eyes, but it seemed to me that the spine of the film was held up by Irons.

What do I think I learned from this film?
You're past will always come back to haunt you, and sometimes it really is the devil you don't know vs the devil you do know.

Day 144

Movie: The Dead Will Tell
Starring: Anne Heche, Kathleen Quinlan
Genre: Thriller, Drama,
Year:2004
Format: TV EDIT

Plot: After getting an engagement ring, a woman starts to see a murder that happened thirty years before, and starts to investigate it. 

Made for tv movie.

This started off confusing with it's opening few scenes in order to cover the thirty year gap and move the story along into the bulk of the couple's relationship.  I don't understand why they couldn't have just shown the murder then jumped to the scene where the couple got engaged?

After that, the film starts to smoothly begin to tell the story. 

What do I think I learned from this film?
Sometimes when you see things, you really are seeing them. If more people were open to what's around us on all levels, then maybe we would be less likely to hurt each other on this level.  Passion can not be stopped, not in art nor in love.

Day 143

Movie: The First Wives Club
Starring: Diane Keaton, Bette Midler
Genre: Comedy
Year: 1996
Format: TV EDIT

Plot: Three women who've been dumped by their husbands for younger women, take revenge by taking back the companies they helped to build.

Classic.  Don't we all want to be able to take revenge on an ex?
The way the three women go about getting even with their ex husbands is funny and still humane. Unlike some films that tackle the topic of getting revenge, this one keeps it clean, the men loose money but not blood.
Which proves there is a right way to get revenge and start over.

What do I think I learned from this film?
At some point it seems like everyone is a "first wife" even when you're not married.

Day 142

Movie: She's out of My League
Starring; Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve
Genre: Comedy, Romance,
Year: 2010
Format: Shaw Video On Demand

Plot: When a nerdy guy starts dating a hot girl, his friends and family can't believe it.

I love Jay Baruchel.  If he's the poster boy for nerds then they've come along way since I was in high school.

this is one of those films that is believable and not at the same time.
You're cheering for the couple throughout the film, but always waiting for the other shoe to drop.
There is this big scene where he stands up to his family only to be put on hold with his plans of freedom, literally.

What do I think I learned from this film?
This storyline isn't that far fetched, but you'd never really see it in real life in the reverse.  Any guy no matter what "level" his looks are can end up with a woman who's better looking then him, but not so much the other way around. Men never seem to go for women they think are less then them.

Day 141

Movie: Age of Innocence
Starring: Daniel Day Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer,
Genre: Drama, Romance
Year: 1993
Format: TV EDIT

Plot: At the turn of the century in New York, a society scandal keeps two would be lovers from marrying.

This is based on a book.

The topic here is love over duty.  The leads are trapped in marriages they don't really want to be in.  Jealousy follows.
It focuses mostly on a lawyer who falls in love with a woman who wants to get a divorce from her first husband. Whom is talked about but I dont remember seeing in the film.
There are some big traits that are common now in society still, even though it's set in the 1870's.

What do I think I learned from this film?
Society's structure and it's expectations will always have a hold on even the most honest people.

Day 140

Movie: Blades of Glory
Starring: Will Ferrell, Jon Heder
Genre: Comedy, Sports
Year: 2007
Format: TV EDIT

Plot: Two male figure skaters are banned for life from the singles division but find a loophole when they decide to work as a team.

This is one of those it's so stupid it'll work films.
I'm not much of a fan of Ferrell nor of skating for that matter, but this movie managed to keep my interest long enough. It's slapstick humour plays well for the topic at hand.

Given I saw this on tv, it still managed to hold it's storyline and make enough sense, if a Will Farrell film can make sense.

What do I think I learned from this film?
If we all work together, together it will all work or something to that effect.