Motorcycle Diaries vs. Eat, Pray, Love

I just rewatched Motorcycle Diaries and then went to Eat, Pray, Love the next day. One can’t help but make comparisons between these two movies, both about a member of the privileged class who goes on a “spiritual” (I’m using that word even though I think it is kinda meaningless) and an actual journey. Motorcycle Diaries is about journey of the young Che Guevara and his good friend from one end of South America to the other, through amazing scenery where the young Che learns to see this landscape through the eyes of the poor and helpless. You actually see his character changing as he becomes impassioned about his quest to unite the underclass of South America. Now, Eat, Pray, Love, on the other hand, is about a woman who left her husband without any real reason that the audience can tell (I didn’t read the book, by the way) and she is so distraught and apparently has enough money to say my only way to make myself whole again is to go to Italy, India, and Bali. Liz, played by the gorgeous how-can-life-be-tough-for-someone-that-beautiful Julia Roberts, mopes throughout the movie and then *poof* is happy again, in part when she crashes into the sexy Javier Bardem. Che was on a they, they, they trip while Liz is on a me, me, me trip. Of course, Eat, Pray, Love may be worth seeing for some beautiful scenery and some good bits by Javier Bardem and Richard Jenkins. And Motorcycle Diaries is definitely worth seeing.

Ghostwriter

Roman Polanski resurfaces with this Hitchcockian drama about a Tony Blair-like politician who’s writing his memoirs with a ghostwriter while on Martha’s Vineyard. Pierce Brosan plays the former prime minister and Euan McGregor plays the ghost writer. Now, I always like a movie with Euan McGregor, and in this film he is again witty and debonair while he tries to find his way in a world where he is in way over his head. Right as the ghostwriter begins working with Brosnan’s character he is accused of war crimes and the ghostwriter while happens upon some unsavory details about his subject. Overall, I found Ghostwriter to be an intriguing little mystery with good acting.

Summer Movies 2010

Because I've been having too much time for fun like going to the beach and having margaritas with the visitors, I haven't been posting much lately. Of course, I have been watching some movies:

Alice in Wonderland: meandering fantasy with a few visually delightful moments but overall, yawn
The Last Station: this movie is a very enjoyable story about the followers of Leo Tolstoy during his waning years. It’s about the struggle between his wife and the Tolstoyans over his legacy. Tolstoyans are pretty interesting. They are devoted followers of Tolstoy with some strange rules thrown in like being celibate and refraining from killing bugs or some such things like that. There is a very sweet romance between two Tolstoyans, one played by the cute James McAvoy.
Whip It: Whip it is a fun coming of age drama with the likable Ellen Page. Her character, Bliss, defies her controlling mother to skate with some tough chicks in the Roller Derby.
Broken Embraces: the latest from Pedro Almodovar with the evervescant Penelope Cruz. The plot is hard to explain, but unfolds in the form of a memory from a blind film maker who tells of his love affair with Lena or the beautiful Penelope Cruz. Interesting but not as good as Volver.

Please Give

I’ve thought a lot about Please Give since I saw it. Am I one of those people? By one of those people I mean liberal, socially conscious, but down deep caught up in meaningless grasps for stuff: property, furniture,decorative items, spray tans etc. (Well, I know I am not interested in spray tans!) The movie revolves around a married couple who buy and sell used furniture, waiting for old folks to die and then visiting their New York apartments looking for treasures. Meanwhile the couple played by Elizabeth Keener and Oliver Platt hope to expand their New York apartment after a cranky old lady next door dies. Perhaps, the one genuinely giving person in the movie is one of the old lady’s granddaughters, Rebecca played by Rebecca Hall (you may recall her from her great role in Vicky Christina Barcelona) who cares for her grandmother despite having to listen to her demeaning comments every time she visits. All in all, Please Give is a very thought-provoking movie.

Young Victoria

Young Victoria covers about 5 years of Queen Victoria of England’s life when she becomes queen and meets and marries Prince Albert. If you like movies about the English monarchy (and I really do!), you will like Young Victoria. Not only is the romance very sweet, but also learning about the insular and rare world that Victoria managed to thrive in is fascinating.

The Messenger

Why wasn’t Ben Foster nominated for an Oscar for his role in The Messenger? Woody Harrelson, who was nominated for best supporting actor, is good too, but wow, Ben Foster is amazing. The Messenger is a story about two soldiers whose job it is to notify family members about the death of their loved one in war. It’s just a story about two extremely messed up guys who have a very messed up job. Simple and well worth watching.

The Time Traveler's Wife

I had read bad reviews of this movie but still wanted to see it since I read the book. The Time Traveler’s Wife manages to take the exciting concept of time travel and make it boring. Even the ever radiant and cute Rachel McAdams, the time traveler’s wife, is not very interesting. In the book, the relationship between the wife and the traveler played by Eric Bana in the movie, is passionate, in the movie, enhhh. The best part of the movie comes when the cute little girl shows up, and that’s the last 20 minutes of the movie.