Cooper and Lawrence Branch Out, Leaving Their Porfolios in the Dust

I'm back! To say the holidays were lovely is an understatement. I stuffed my face with food, family, and friends, but now it's time to get back to writing. With the recent announcement of the Oscar nods, I've got a lot to watch! Starting with....

Movie Review "Silver Linings Playbook"

Russell’s film has very little to do with sports. Though De Niro plays a superstitious father/Philadelphia Eagles fan, the focus of this movie surrounds his desperately (not to mention unrealistically) optimistic son, Pat, played by the equally talented and handsome Bradley Cooper. Every interaction that ensues between Pat and Tiffany, portrayed by the adorably spunky Jennifer Lawrence, is honest and heartfelt, with the perfect does of comic relief. What’s most impressive is Russell’s ability to show authentic family violence in such a way that doesn't make the entire film wholly violent or scarring. In short, its “real talk”.

Rating: 9/10

Silver Lining Playbook
Written by: David O. Russell, based on the novel by Matthew Quick
2012

"Wait...is it Josh Radnor or Ted Mosby?"

Movie Review: "Liberal Arts"

A movie starring one of my favorite sitcom actors and Zac Efron as a beanie-wearing stoner sidekick?! Count me in. This film is Radnor’s baby- and while I wasn’t bothered by his performance, during the whole movie I kept wondering when he was going to stop acting like Ted and start acting like the lead role “Jessie”. Sadly, it never happened. It wasn’t atrocious-by any means- it just wasn’t anything radically new for Radnor. Luckily, I think we might have finally found the most talented member of the Olsen family, and I can’t wait to see Elizabeth does next.

Rating: 7/10
"Liberal Arts"
Directed and written by Josh Radnor
2012

“Funny funny, raunchy raunchy, Marky-mark and Mila…

Movie Review: "Ted"

…Them other teddy bears can’t talk so I don’t even botha” (It helps if you sing that as Kreayshawn’s “Gucci Gucci”). Don’t let my sub-par parody of a rap song deter you- the humor is this film is much more conducive to actually making people laugh. It might seem too soon to say this, but I can‘t hold it in any longer: I love Ted. I love him so much, I want my own Ted. Other than that, Mark Wahlberg is hilarious, lovable, and hot, and Mila Kunis gets more attractive by the minute-someone make her stop.

Rating: 9.5/10

"Ted"
Directed by Seth MacFarlane
Written by Seth MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin, and Wellesley Wild
2012

Ryan Gosling is Suffocating Underneath a Pile of Women?!

Movie Review: Crazy, Stupid Love

I originally wrote off this film before seeing it as a romantic comedy with a few take-away one liners. As it turns out, the joke was on me. Punctuated by a shocking yet hilarious plot-twist from left field, this film is pure entertainment. Steve Carell warms your heart with his good-intentioned (though usually flawed) plans to reunite with Julianne Moore, his gracefully-aging better half. Kudos to Mindy Marin for casting Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as love interests- there’s nothing I to see more than sexiest man alive in love the most adorable woman to ever exist.   

Rating: 9/10"Crazy, Stupid Love"
Directed by Glen Ficarra and John Requa
Written by Dan Fogelman
2011

Bond...James Bond.

Movie Review: "Skyfall"

Though I come from a rather Bond-less background, this film is spectacular. Daniel Craig swiftly progresses through each action sequence with the help of his chiseled physique and slew of hugely talented supporting actors, including Ralph Fiennes and Naomie Harris. Judi Dench is as saucy as ever, and Javier Bardem transforms into a villain we love to hate. Always quickly moving from one scene to the next, the film has 2 parts that will resonate with you long after it’s finished: the exquisite graphics that accompany Adele’s “Skyfall” near the beginning, and the ending that questions the future of all of London’s spies.

Rating: 9/10

"James Bond: Skyfall"
Written by: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, John Logan, and Ian Fleming
Directed by: Sam Mendes
2012

Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus...

   Stand-up Review: Whitney Cummings: "Money Shot" 

   She spends a most of her time talking about the differences between men and women, calling the latter “emotional ninjas”. She prowls on unsuspecting men in the audience, gaining laughs from their nervous attempts to answer her frank questions. Think if Sex and the City was terrible and centered around a brunette Samantha: vulgar, neurotic, and she talks to herself. It’s not that it’s bad; it’s that Whitney makes a point & then beats it over the head while sprinkling morsels of good material throughout the performance. When you find one, it’s like a chocolate chip in a sea of raisins.

Rating: 4/10

Whitney Cummings: "Money Shot"
Directed by John Fortenberry
2010

Where Do Babies Come From?

Movie Review: "Conception"

Conception is a 90-minute people-pleaser with a long list of  B-list celebrities, including Julie Bowen, Sarah Hyland, and Gregory Smith. Centered around the moment where 9 different couples conceive, this film is funny, relatable  and earnest. We get to see these 9 couples- lesbians, married but stuck in a rut-ers, first-daters, - talk about sex and their impending pregnancy (some more planned than others). Unlike other vignette-style films, Conception enables you to connect with these characters through a great script and impeccable comedic timing. Save this for the next time you and your girlfriends are chatting about men and motherhood.

Rating: 8/10

Conception
Directed and Written by Josh Stolberg
2011