Media Monday: Max and Mary

It's  been awhile, but I decided to resurrect Media Monday for the movie, Max and Mary, that I just saw through Netflix. It's a clay-mation flick and I've always had a soft spot in my heart for those. this movie is definitely an adult clay-mation, since it deals with some heavy topics such as suicide, alcoholism, and sex (not that there is a clay-mation sex scene). But despite it's heavy material, it's heartwarming in an off-beat, unusual way.

The movie is about a little girl who, through a series of fortunate events, becomes a pen pal to a man who has Asperger's who lives in New York City. The movie shows how their letters allow a friendship to blossom and make both of them feel less isolated. There's a moment of betrayal and then that moment is rectified, so that they can come together in the end. The story itself is rather formulaic, but the idiosyncrasies are endearing and the message is universal. Everyone feels alone and everyone is merely trying to feel less alone.

The ending isn't necessarily your typical happy ending. It's a little sad and it's a little happy. But at the same time, that's a lot like life, isn't it?

Silver Screen Sunday: Life in a Day

Life in a Day was streaming on Netflix, so I convince Beardy that we should watch. I am so glad I did. This movie brought up a lot of philosophical-esque questions for me, and they were fun to discuss with my beloved (connectedness/disconnectedness of humanity, the everlasting God question, The Point Of Life, and more).

There is no single story, there is just life, and that alone is beautiful. Organized loosely by theme, one scene, a single flash-in-the-pan moment of a real person's life, flows into the next with a fluid ease. The music that accompanies these tender moments of life is a beautiful complement to the sometimes amateur film-making.

I can't honestly say much more about this movie because I am still in awe of it. These film makers have taken something and purified it, made it whole for me. Maybe it's impact will not be felt by others, but for me, it made all the difference in the world.

Silver Screen Sunday - 50/50

Although I saw this movie a week or two ago, it greatly deserves this prize of being my first movie review in all of blogland.

I loved this movie, and perhaps that's because I identified so readily with being ill (all the time, when I was younger) or being in the hospital. However, I think that pretty much anyone can relate to some aspect of this movie and anyone who doesn't cry in it most likely doesn't have a soul.

First of all, I thought the acting was impeccable. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was the perfect vehicle for this emotional roller coaster. Seth Rogen, who I think has played out the stoner/slacker role one too many times, was actually appropriately cast as the best friend who doesn't seem like he gets it. And Anna Kendrick (yes, Bella's friend in Twilight) has stepped out of the twilight and into the indie-it-girl light. The relationships between all these characters seems very real and down to earth.

SPOILER:

The complexity of these relationships is revealed throughout the story to show that everything is not as it seems. Rogen becomes a supportive friend, Kendrick's professionalism is swapped for a budding romance. Angelica Houston becomes the mama bear and Gordon-Levitt lets her.

The only thing I would have changed about it? Gordon-Levitt didn't need to live. Everything after he is knocked out for surgery is just the same, tired Hollywood thing. Everything does not need to be tied up with neat little ribbons and the audience can be left to wonder. Just as the movie begins in the middle of someone's life, it should end in the middle of it, too. Knowing whether or not Gordon-Levitt lives or dies is not essential to the story.

Also, I loathe the logline to this movie: "It takes a pair to beat the odds," as it implies that Rogen is such a good friend to help Gordon-Levitt through this hard time, when the movie isn't even about that.