The World Of Chrisopher Nolan Part 2- Memento

"Remember Sammy Jankis"

I continue my trip through the world of Christopher Nolan with his second feature film Memento (2000). This is probably my favorite of all of his movies (As much as I want to say Batman, but for other reasons, Christian Bale :oP) Memento was produced 2 years after Nolan completed Following and contains many of the same film making elements that Nolan appeared to be experimenting with in his first film. Memento is actually based on a short story that his brother Johnathan wrote, but it was not published until after the movie was released.

The basic story follows Leonard Shelby, who was attacked in his home when trying to protect his wife from two men who entered his home and raped her. They hit him on his head and caused him to no longer be able to produce any new memories. The last thing that Leonard says he remembers is his wife dying. He makes it his mission to locate and kill the man who murdered his wife and took away his memory. Since he is unable to produce any new memories Leonard must relay on the notes and pictures that he takes. He also tattoos the most important things on his body. He cannot remember things for more than a few minutes at a time....making the search for his wife's killer a bit challenging.

This story is enough to make an interesting movie, but Nolan takes it one step further in the WAY he tells the story. Much like he did with Following, Nolan starts at the end of the story and works his way backwards. He takes the beginning of the movie, the end of the movie, and shows snips of both until they finally come together full circle back to the opening sequence. (which is actually played backwards) Confusing you say??? How will I know what is the beginning of the movie and what is the end?? All valid questions, and there is a simple answer. Nolan uses black and white to help distinguish between the different sequences of events. One of my favorite moments in the movie is when the two sequences finally come together and it changes over from black and white to color. As in Following, much to what Leonard is experiencing, much like Billy, is not everything that is appears to be.

The acting in this movie was also very good. Guy Pierce did a great job as Leonard. I found it very interesting that he was not the first choice for the roll. Carrie-Ann Moss and Joe Pantoliano, both fresh off The Matrix, also did amazing jobs with their rolls. These seemed to really be difficult parts to really get down, yet each actor seemed so comfortable and so perfect in each of their rolls.

This is such a hard movie to talk about without giving to much away, and I don't want to do that at all. I will say that this is one of the movies that a person really needs to watch at least twice. You pick up so many different things the second time around, that you wish you had noticed the first time. This is truly a must for all Nolan fans, and fans of cinema in general. I really felt like this was the movie that he was trying to make with Following. That was his practice, his stepping stone, and without making that movie I don't believe Memento would have be the amazing movie that it is.

So I say...Watch it....watch it again....and then make a decision, but I can promise you that for those 113 minutes, you will not be bored. Confused....maybe....bored....not at all.

"Just because I don't remember, doesn't make my actions meaningless. The world doesn't disappear just because I close my eyes." 

The World of Christopher Nolan Part 1- Following

"Everyone has a box."

In honor of the release of The Dark Knight Rises this week, I decided to go back and review all of Christopher Nolan's films. He is one of my favorite directors of all time, and it is never a bad thing to watch a Nolan film, and I always have something to say about everything, so what better place than my own movie blog. (and it's a great way to pass some time while in the hospital :oP ) I thought it fitting to watch his movies in order of their release. It is always interesting to watch a director's progression and growth. So, I started with his 1998, black and white movie, Following.
Following appears a first to have a very simple story line, a young struggling writer, Bill, follows people in order to help inspire his writing. One of his marks notices him one day and approaches him. This man, Cobb, turns out to be a thief. (Fun fact: also the last name of DiCaprio's character in Inception) Cobb begins to teach him the ropes of breaking and entering. Seemingly basic storyline correct? Nothing is ever basic with Nolan, and that is why is his amazing.

This movie is categorized as being a film nor, which is a fancy word for a stylish crime drama. I found that this particular film really reminded me of some of Hitchcock's (my favorite director ever, he stands above everyone else) This movie, much like his second film Memento, does not start at the complete beginning of the film. It goes back and forth from the beginning of the story, the end of the story, and even at times the middle of the story. Being that this was his first full-length feature, this could easily be a disaster for an experienced director, let alone a brand new one. He did a wonderful job though. He has such a way with reveling little things piece by piece, without giving to much away, but making you think that you have everything figured out. Then he hits you again with something new. What is great about this, is that it is never something to far fetched that it is unbelievable, it is just something that you probably didn't think about, even though all of the pieces were there for you to figure it out yourself if you looked close enough. This has been a talent of his throughout all of his films. I thought that the cuts in between the scenes could have been a bit smoother, but this is a directorial and debut, and a very low budgeted film, so I can't complain to much.

Another thing that I loved about the film is that it was filmed in black and white. Many people now a days are a bit turned off by black and white movies (my cousin's boyfriend being one of them :op). I feel that black and white movies force us to focus on the important aspects of the movie, the story. This generation of movie goers are so used to the special effects and how big the expectations are, but what they are forgetting is what is at the heart of every movie-The Story. I thought that this was a great choice for this particular film. There was nothing that was lost without color. You focused on the story and the characters.
What also amazed be about this movie was the focus of this idea of voyeurism. This movie was made in 1998, a few years before the Internet boom, and the insane blow up of social media. Cobb talks to Bill about how all people have a box that contains all of these intimate items, and that knowing someone has taken a look into this box, excites them a little. They don't really take much of anything, but they are observing and peaking....they are making judgements based on the things that they see displayed in their homes. I didn't think that this was very far off of what we all do in all of our social media outlets. I thought that aspect of the movie was the most interesting.  
All in all this was a great start for Nolan's career. You can see different things that he was playing around tired to perfect with his later films. Memento has many of the story telling tricks that he used in this one. If you are a Christopher Nolan fan at all, this is a must see. The acting is nothing special, but for me it really didn't need to be. If you appreciate Alfred Hitchcock at all, this is also a must see. I think that is definitely has many remnants of his film style as well. Watch it from a distance, quietly at first, and then feel yourself become lost in a world you never intended to be in.

The Hunger Games

Books that become movies.....the thing that takes on my biggest scrutiny in the wide world of cinema these days. I was especially concerned when I read about a year ago that they would be taking the fantastic teen novel, The Hunger Games, and placing it onto the big screen. I read all three of the books in this series about a year and a half ago, and I only have good things to say about them. I recommend them to everyone that I know. Suzanne Collins created such related and lovable characters that it was hard not to be sucked into the world of Panem and its 12 Districts.The basic story line of The Hunger Games, is every year each of the 12 Districts will select at random a boy and girl ages 12-18 years old to represent their District in the annual Hunger Games. This places all 24 of the young boys and girls into a predesigned and very intricate arena in order to fight to the death. The winner will receive extra food and oil for an entire year for their District. Katniss Everdeen's younger sister has been chosen, and in order to spare her from entering the arena, Katniss volunteered to go instead. Her and Peeta Mellark are the to tributes that represent District 12 at the 74th annual Hunger Games.
I thought that the screen writing was pretty good, and that is attributed to the fact that the Suzanne Collins was involved with the writing of the screen play. It is always better when an author is a part of the screen writing process. They are there to help make sure that no major details are left out, and the emphasis is in all to right places. There where only two complaints that I had, and that was with the mockingjay pin. How Katniss gets the pin in movie is much different from in the novel. In the novel, the major of District 12's daughter gives her the pin. It is a true token from her District. The other complaint I had was that in the movie, Cinna, her fashion designer, places the pin in a hidden place before she enters the arena. In the novel, she is able to wear a token from her District and it is out for all of Panem to see. This becomes important in the later novels.
I found that the acting choices for the characters to be good ones. I was very apprehensive at first with Jenniner Lawerance at Katniss, but after viewing the film for a second time, I really thought that she did a pretty good job. Woody Harrelson could not have been a better choice for the drunkard Haymitch, although I would have liked to have seen him drinking a little bit more. Josh Hutcherson did a wonderful job as the quiet and baker Peeta. Elizabeth Banks surprised me with her portrayal of Effie Trinket. She couldn't have done a better job. The only thing that I was not happy actor wise, was Lenny Kravitz as Cinna. Cinna is slightly more flamboyant in the novel. While he comes from the capital, he still wears bright and amazing stuff, but he is toned down. Lenny Kravitz toned him down so much that he was in all black. I thought that took away a bit from Cinna.  Amandla Stenberg captured the essence of Rue beautifully. I would have loved to have seen more of her.
Talking to many people about these novels, they really became bothered by the fact that this was children fighting to the death while people stood by and watched as entertainment. After reading all of the novels and watching the movie twice, I feel that there is really more to it than a bloody battle. I felt that the first of these novels was really a commentary on the ideas of change. This is a terrible thing that many people in the world of  Panem disagree with, but for 74 years nobody has risen against the capital because of what happened as a result of the last rebellion. They live in a state of fear. These novels showed that it only takes one person to stand up for what they believe is the right thing to do, one person to stand tall when others were so afraid. Katniss is the girl that had the guts to stand tall when everyone else was so afraid to. This is enough to empower those who are frightened. That is the true message of the Hunger Games.  (I have always been a sucker for these kinds of stories)
Watch. Enjoy. "Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor."

The Muppets

I love to go back to the things of my childhood...Toys, games, TV shows, movies.... everything that I grew up with was awesome and nothing is better. Now the Muppets have been around longer than I have, and have not been a direct result of my childhood, but they where a part of it for sure. I can remember The Mupper Show as the last thing on Nickeloden at 8 o'clock. I also loved The Muppet Babies and that Nanny that you only ever saw her stripped socks! (that always creeped me out a little bit) There is something so timeless about the muppets, and it does make me a little sad that they aren't really out there as much as they used to be. They are something that families can really enjoy together, and there isn't much of that out there now. That being said.... The new Muppet movie is a must see for all 80's kids and Muppet lovers in general.
Jason Segal and Nicholas Stoller did a great job of bring the Muppets back to life and enjoyable for a whole new generation. There was such a great balance between fun old school references for the adults and relatable humor for the kids. And any movie that can make fun of itself is a winner in my book. They had so many great songs, and cameos. There was nothing lost in this movie at all. Amy Adams did a great job as usual. Anything that has Chris Coopers rapping should also be given a look just on principal.
The basic story is that Gary's (Jason Segal) brother Walter, a muppet, has never really felt like he fit in anywhere. He has always idolized The Muppet Show, and his dream was the visit Muppet Studios. He gets his chance when Gary takes him along to LA when he brings his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) for their 10 year anniversary. Mary loves Walter, but feels that Gary sometimes forgets about her. While at the rundown studioes, Walter overhears Texas Richman (Chris Cooper) say that once he owns the studio he is going to tear down the entire thing to drill for oil. Walter then decides to fund Kermit to try and get the whole gang back together to raise 10 million dollars in order to save the studios. The gang hasn't been together for a long time. There are laughs, some tears, songs, everything. 

I really wish that I could say more about The Muppets, but there is just isn't.  I believe that Jason Segal has tried to bring the Muppets to life for a new generation, and You have to see it for yourself. Trust me you won't be dissappointed.... and if you are....then I judge you....really..... *~Manical Laugh~*

The Artist

Anyone who knows me knows that I love a great story, and I love to see a great story told, whether it be on the screen or in a novel. I have been so frustrated over the last few years as lover of film because I have felt that we have gotten away from the heart of cinema.-Telling great stories to escape from the world for a few hours. The Artist was a true reminder of everything that is great about movies, and why I had come to love them. It was a true work of art. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me smile. It had everything. 

The basic story of the movie is about a silent film actor George Valentin at the peak of his career. Once talkies are discovered, his production company stops producing silent films and begins to only produced talkies. George refuses to be a part of this new wave. Peppy Miller becomes the new rising talkie star after a short encounter with George at the beginning of the movie where he offers her some advice that helps her to break out. The film then begins to follow the downward spiral of George and the transformation of Peppy. I loved to watch the character development in the movie. As Peppy took the roles in the talkie films, her character did a lot more "talking" in the movie itself. George always a man of few words relied on his facial expressions for most of his communication. While he does talk, it is not to any great extent. 

Michel Hazanavicius (writer and director) did a wonderful job with taking such an old concept and bringing it into the modern world. It can be quite discerning for many people to hear the words silent and black and white. What is just so amazing is that after about 10 minutes, you forget that you are watching a silent film. The actors do such an amazing job with their facial expressions and their body movements that there is never a question as to what is happening. There is never a moment where one would question the motives of a character. I would even say that it is almost as if you can see more than what the characters are saying. You can almost hear what they are thinking as well. That is an element that I find to be extremely important to any story.  

It also gives such a testament to the musical composers of the film. Now, I am not a music person by any means (this would be my talented composer of a brothers department), but I have an extreme appreciation for music in film. It is just as important, if not more so, than any of the actors. The music becomes another character. It is telling the story. There is no need for words. 

Jean Dujardin (George Valentin) did a fantastic job. with a role that requires not talking, it would have been easy to over din had the perfect balance. One of my favorite scenes is when he is talking to Miss Miller (Bérénice Bejo) on a staircase. She is talking his ear off, and he is watching her in an almost adoring way. You can almost tell what he is thinking. This beautiful young actress who is getting the start of her career. He is happy for her, but sad as the same time. It was such an amazing balance. I thought it was beautiful. After watching the film, he deserved that Oscar. act and over do the facial expressions. Dujar

There are many people who have said that this movie had received its award for best picture because it is a novelty film. After viewing the movie, I feel that this could be father from the truth. This movie brought us back to the birth of film, to our roots. It told a story about how easily one thing in this ever changing and growing industry can be forgotten and tossed to the side without a second thought. I believe that it also showed us how it is possible to bridge the old with the new and in turn create something even more amazing. Forgetting were you come from can be just as dangerous as refusing to adjust and change. The Artist showed us that this is possible and reminded us that sometimes it isn't about who can draw the biggest explosion or what can we 3D next, but about the story behind it all and sharing that. If we forget where we come from, we are just as likely to lose it all. But don't take my word for it..... go see it yourself. 

September 11, 2001-Ten Years

I am having a hard time starting this particular entry. It has been ten years since the single greatest tragedy our nation has ever seen and I felt compelled to reflect, but I am at a loss on how to start. There is not a single day that goes by that I do not think about the events of September 11, 2001. The numbers 9-11 are no longer just numbers, but a constant reminder. I cannot look at the time when the clock reads 9:11am/pm, or even talk about my final class period of the day without a slight hesitation. Ten years passing has not made that any easier.

It is a difficult day for me. It is a day that I still strive to understand. I struggle to wrap my mind around the shear magnitude of those whose lives were forever altered in a single second. Not only those who lost their lives, and their family members who miss them everyday, but even those people who where able to evacuate the buildings or those who missed their flights that morning. Each one of those lives will never be the same. They all carry that day with them as they live out their daily lives. I wish that I could reach out to each one of them.... I wish that I could let them know that I share in their pain.... I wish that I could take some of that burden and that sorrow from them....nobody should have to feel such pain.....I wish that I could help them.....

I think that is what bothers me the most. All of the 3,000 or so people that past away that day had family and friends that cared about them. They had people that relayed on them. They had people that loved them. They had children who looked forward to playing catch with their dads and shopping with their moms. Those children had their lives flipped upside down because of hate. That is a pain that can never be erased with time. 

They say that time heals all wounds. I don't know if I believe that to be entirely true. Time has allowed people to come to terms with what happened. It has allowed people to understand the why and to begin to move on with their lives and adjust to a new way of life. There will always be that memory. It will always replay in the mind. The wound may have closed, but there will forever be that scar. 

I have taken from 9/11/01 the importance of living each day to the fullest extent, telling the people around you that you care and love them everyday, not taking anything for granted, and to not waste time being sad. Anything can happen. Those people have given me that gift, and I will honor them each day by doing just that. They brought together our nation in a way that I never thought possible, and I am so thankful that I was able to be a part of that unity.

The first 16 years of my life were lived in a different world than the last ten years of my life. It pains me to think that my little niece and nephews will never know the world as I did. Terrorism was not in my vocabulary and War was just something you learned about in a text book. Nobody thought twice about getting on a plane, and I had no idea that we even had a color coded terror alert system. It is amazing what a split second can do. 

I do not dwell in the sadness and I do not think that we should take the day as one of mourning. I believe that it should forever be a day of true remembrance. We should take those moments of silence, we should listen to their names, we should remember the events, and we should reflect on how they have changed our nation and ourselves. Talking about it and remembering does not mean that we are stuck in the past, and not talking about it and remembering it will not change the fact that it happened and that it will forever be painful. We should never stop remembering and honoring. I think that it is important to educate the younger generations and allow them to be a part of the day and to teach them those precious life lessons that those who lost their lives left us with. 

I will take each September 11, for as long as I live, and I will reflect. I will shed a tear.  I will stand proud as an American. I will pray for those families. I will light my candle in my window, and I will never forget. 

Black Swan

The first thing that I said when I walked out of the theater was, "That was a mind________ (fill in explicit language here)." Black Swan was one of those movies that you're not quite sure what you just watched for the last hour and forty five minutes. IT took me about twenty four hours to sort through everything that my eyes had taken in, and that was after the damn thing gave me nightmares. They were not lying when they called the movie a psychological thriller.

The basic plot of the movie focuses on Nina (Natalie Portman). Nina is a young ballerina in NYC. The dance company that she belongs to decides to put on Swan Lake. The lead role requires the dancer who plays the Swan Queen to play both the White Swan (innocence) and the Black Swan (sensuality). It becomes apparent early on that Nina is a perfectionist when it comes to her dancing and in life itself. Nina is chosen for the role. She is able to perform the part of the White Swan with ease, but a struggle arises when she begins to practice the Black Swan. The company leader, Thomas (Vincent Cassel), tells her that she is not able to let herself go enough to become the role of the Black Swan. The dance is more than just dancing the steps correctly. Nina becomes distressed because she cannot understand what she has to do in order to perfect the dance. She becomes even more bothered when a new dancer in the company, Lily (Mina Kunis), seems to understand the Black Swan role. Nina begins to spiral out of control.


After initially watching the film, it is easy for someone to say that it was the role of the Black Swan that drove her insanity. Then I thought about it some more, and the more I thought about it, the more it seemed to me that the movie is just one be ironic situation. It becomes clear throughout the movie that Nina has struggled with some kind of psychological problem before being award the role of the Swan Queen. She was able to control the problem, but not without the constant help of her mother. I believe that it was this psychological problem that drove much of Nina's desire to be perfect. The idea that being perfect would make everything wrong disappear. Her psychological problems began to surface again when she begins to struggle with dancing the Black Swan. She cannot be perfect without embracing the parts of her that are imperfect. That is the true story- Nina's struggle with perfection, and the fact that perfection sometimes is not always perfect.

Darren Aronofsky did a fantastic job directing this strange and twisted story. There are little things in each scene that take you into Nina's mind. You felt the mental struggle in Nina. You began to struggle with her. She    was never quite sure what was going on. You are never quite sure what is going on. He never gives you more information that Nina herself has. He allowed his audiences to become Nina and to suffer with her. That is something very hard to do.

Everyone who know me, knows that I have this deep dislike for Natalie Portman. It would be wrong of me to say that she didn't do a fantastic job with this movie. She was amazing. Her dancing was breathtaking. It is a difficult task to portray two completely different personalities with such ease and grace. I believe that the best actors say the most when they are not saying anything at all. She said so much with little looks and tiny movements that could easily have gone unnoticed. Mina Kunis also did a wonderful job as the opposite personality. Without a strong cast, this movie could have easily fallen apart with such a complicated plot. Snaps for the actors!

I would have to recommend this movie. The more that I think about it, the more and more I like it. Just be prepared to not really know what it was you just watched when you walk out of the theater. Don't think about it to much. It seems to figure itself out. One thing I would have to say though, don't watch it before bed!