Tag: Mila Kunis

Thursday Movie Picks

Thursday Movie Picks: Child Actors Venturing Out of Typecasting

Not going to lie, reading this typecasting theme for the first time gave me hives. It is a brilliant theme, don’t get me wrong, but it also expects some serious thinking. I had to ask Brittani for help because this typecasting thing was for some reason very difficult for me. Even now I’m not sure if I got it right.. it’s such a tricky and frustrating theme because it focuses on careers rather than movies. And frankly, most of the careers I follow from start to finish have been less about typecasting and more about being everything.

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Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

Oz the Great and Powerful

As a classic, Wizard of Oz is still a movie I haven’t seen but watching it’s prequel seemed sill like a splendid idea at first. As it turned out, it was not delivering as powerfully as one would expect. There were various problems, some more related to the entire plot of the movie but most of the issues were caused by the lack of power behind the acting, in addition, the strong visuals  ( cause I didn’t care for 3D) couldn’t salvage the movie to a point of greatness or anything good to be totally honest.

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# 232 – Forgetting Sarah Marshall

It was year 2008 when Sarah Marhsall dumped Peter Bretter and gave us the opportunity to see his and therefor Jason Segel’s manly hood on the big screen. A historical moment it was and no surprise cause Jason Segel himself wrote the script for this comedy that is probably one of my favorites. Not necessarily because of the story-lines but probably more due to the fact that it features a lot of great names like Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Jonah Hill and Paul Rudd. Even Russell Brand had a appealing role in this one meaning he didn’t annoy me.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a movie about a love story gone wrong and a man finding his way again. It isn’t a very lame comedy and actually feels realistic – it is clear that Segel as a comedy actor knows how to write comedy as well. I’m not really sure about his next projects The Muppets that comes out during this year – although the cast list is rather amazing. The Five-Year Engagement (2012) is another Segel’s writing that might be as funny as forgetting Sarah. Coming back to the movie I have nothing else important to add, I think most of you have seen it and if not, definitely watch it cause it shows how a man acts after he has been dumped.

In my opinion it is fair that this movie has a 7.3 score on IMDb, that’s a pretty good score for a comedy and since it was Segel’s first attempt to write a screenplay I’d say it turned out well. I have no problem with watching this movie again when I’m bored and need some entertainment – 3,5 out of 5 describes my joy rather accurately.

# 216 – Friends With Benefits

I waited for this movie a very long time, I remember thinking that this is going to be awesome and I’m gonna like it. I think due to that fact I enjoyed it more than I normally would’ve but Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis had great chemistry and some nice scenes either way. The whole idea was a bit too unstable to me, the way it all ended was a little too corny for this movie. Would’ve liked to see it unravel in a completely different way and maybe I’d be happier about this movie in the end – sadly the end for me was everything but good.

It all started very well, the stories looked good and well, it was quite funny in the beginning. While the stories started to get more serious it all went down-hill cause it wasn’t that joyful and easy anymore. I liked the friends with benefits part, I think that’s what I’m saying about this movie. I’m sorry that I’m really vague about this movie, I saw it a long time ago (and saw a lot of other movies/TV-shows in between) and I think my memory is a bit off with this one. But what else is there to say about a romantic comedy: it was funny, it was cute and then in the end it was all mushy stuff like always.

I checked into the facts, the writers of Friends With Benefits are couple of guys who haven’t written much and it is directed by Will Gluck who has done Easy A and Fired Up. But the sad part is that the movie had a $35 million budget while it crossed just little over $84 million – could’ve been a little bit better considering Timberlake’s fans but apparently they like his music more than his movies. Although Timberlake is not that bad at acting, he actually has great moments when he actually makes me forget that he is a singer. Though now I guess I should call him a singer/actor which is far too popular in Hollywood.

All in all, the movie had its laughs and I think that they are worth to watch this movie at least once, but as I said, the ending was just not for me (not this time) so 2,5 out of 5 for this one. Maybe next time Timberlake, maybe next time. PS: Mila Kunis was gorgeous like always!

# 161 – Friends With Benefits

This might be the worst wait of the year – waiting for Friends With Benefits which comes out on 22nd of July! The movie which stars Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake has a great build-up for a great movie, best comedy of the year based on the trailer that came out today. Although, this might be as it was with Easy A, that all the great moments are in the trailer, but who cares – Woody Harrelson plays a gay guy! And Emma Stone plays Timberlake’s ex and Andy Samberg plays Mila’s ex and Jenna Elfman plays Timberlake’s sister and Emma Stone’s mother from Easy A now plays Mila’s mother and the guy from Burlesque who slept there with Emma’s father from Easy A plays dirty sex games with Mila’s mom (so that guy has slept with both the dad and the mom of Emma from Easy A) and Bryan Greenberg is also in this movie but he isn’t shown in the trailer but I’m thinking he is the boy candy for Woody. Anyway, this was basically the summary of my random thought that came to me after I watched this trailer – a lot of great actors and actresses and I just can’t wait for July! (In my case even later because it is released in Estonia on 23rd of September!!)

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IH9izEZf5E”]

# 129 – Black Swan

I can finally get to cross out this amazing movie from my waiting list. That being said, I’m pretty sure I’m gonna watch this movie again because it is a true visual treat. Story itself supports it and together they allow viewers to have a great experience with this one. And in addition, you really have to think about the movie after wards – you can’t just watch it and then forget about it. That’s why it is good to watch it again, to see it from a different side, to see the small details and stuff.

It is hard to talk about a movie without giving too much away but the basics are pretty obvious, the story is about a ballerina (they show the dark side of ballet – pretty rough) who wants the lead role in the famous ballet called Swan Lake. You know the story? I remember watching the cartoon version of this when I was little and well I’m a bit disappointed at myself, I think the movie would be interesting on a whole new level if I’d know the ballet Swan Lake. But maybe that will happen one day, maybe not – I just think that this movie has so many different point of views hidden in it.

There is a lot of talk about Academy Awards in the end of the year and Black Swan is right up there amongst the most talked about movie of the year. Not just because the movie is great but because the actresses who were in the lead – Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis got the chance to have the spotlight and they earned it. Both lost a lot of weight to make this movie work, both trained hard because they had to portray ballerinas and based on this movie, being a ballerina isn’t that glamorous! But I think in the end it was worth it for the both of them, Portman is going to have a great year (lots of her movies coming out 2011), Mila Kunis proved that she isn’t just about the comedy (I like her more than Portman!, she’s going to go far). The movie of course wouldn’t be nothing without a sexy French man Vincent Cassel who plays the director of the ballet. And no Darren Aronofsky movie wouldn’t be the same without Clint Mansell who again was behind the soundtrack.

So everything is there, the great performances, the amazing story, the mersmerizing visual effects – Darren Aronofsky has come a long way since Requiem For a Dream but he still has that same style that I like. Until next time, Darren, can’t wait.