Paper Heart (2009)

Starring:

Charlyne Yi

Michael Cera

Love. Is it a theme, a feeling, a state of mind, or just massive amounts of seratonin attacking your brain? Whatever it may be, there is no one right answer, just an abundance of individual beliefs. Personally, I am a hopeless romantic that has been influenced with too many pop songs (British especially), romantic movies and idealistic dreams of love that knocks me on my ass with one glance from "the one". Forgive me for being cliche, but love is in the eye of the beholder, as you will find out in this pseudodocudrama.

In Paper Heart, Charlene Yi doesn't believe in love or the notion she can feel love. As a result, she embarks on an international journey to make a documentary about love and hear what love is from the masses and surprises herself in the process. She encounters an array of stories from the people she encounters during her journey Along the way, Michael Cera (playing himself) peaks her interest and she seemingly begrudgingly enters into the fray of a relationship with all of its joys and pitfalls.

The premise draws you in, but the entire movie is one big indie stereotype. Charlyne Yi is very endearing with her awkward nature and angst as the quentessential indie girl. She has all of the qualities of the cute, hipster: She was always wearing a hoodie or cardigan, the horn rimmed glasses, she played guitar and had an original laugh that became very unoriginaly because it was in every scene. Furthermore, how the movie was shot was also inundated with indie facets; it never changed. There was whimsical background instrumentals to compliment the expansive landscape shots, sun hazed faces while driving, scenes with old camera footage a la "The Wonder Years", and simple fonts used in the names of locations. Oh yeah, there is also some sweet paper mache diaramas.

The story starts out sweet, but it quickly turns into an almost farce about love and the cynical nature of Generation Y.

On a brighter note, the real star of this underachieving film was the real opinions and stories of love from the people that she encounters. From couples married for 50 years, to high school newlyweds, biker friends and divorcees, the heart behind these stories is tangible and they definitely took the spotlight away from Yi. These tales of love in all fashions highlighted the fact that the idea of love is multi-faceted and malleable; it cannot pigeonheld into one idealistic form.

Paper Heart is certainly an off-beat documovie that has its moments, but in all of the its indie glory, it lacks the true heart to wholeheartedly captivate an audience who is yearning for something real in this land of cinematic remakes and recycled ideas.

It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010)

It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010)

Starring:

Keir Gilchrist
Emma Roberts
Zach Galifiankis

Everyone, at some point in their lives, endure crises. Whether it is at 8 years old and your favorite toy has gone missing, at 18 years old and have no idea what the hell you want to do after graduation or 42 years old with the proverbial mid-life fear. What makes all of us different is how we cope and handle these bumps in life. This is one of the major themes in It's Kind of a Funny Story, the major similarities and differences between the adolescent and adult worlds.

In It's Kind of a Funny Story, Craig Gilner is a teenager that is unable to cope with the pressures and stress of his daily life, overbearing father, fragile mother, self-absorbed best friend and his best friend's girlfriend, for whom he is secretly in love with. So he did what any sensible teenage boy would do, check himself into the mental health clinic of the local hospital without really divulging what is wrong with him. Due to renovations to the youth ward, he ends up in the adult ward where he meets Bobby (played by a surprisingly excellent Zach Galifianakis), an adult patient with whom he develops a bond and friendship. After spending a small amount of time in the ward, Craig tries to convince his doctor that he is better, but he soon finds out he must spend a minimum five days in the clinic. During his time in the clinic, Craig embarks on a five day quest full of faux pas, stress vomiting, misadventures, and budding romance which makes it a pretty interesting ride. In addition, he also realizes the true nature of friendship and gets a better grip on what makes him truly happy.

Keir Gilchrist as Craig is joy to watch. He brings a self-awareness to Craig that is affable and easy to connect with. Craig knows he has problems, but he does not have an outlet in which to release them to, until he meets other people with problems as well, such as Bobby and Noelle. Noelle (Emma Roberts) is a cutter who is drawn to Craig's kind, good natured persona. Emma Roberts brings a very subtle edge and very palpable vulnerability that is complimentary to Craig's initial introvert nature.

Zach Galifianakis is the one who steals the movie with his performance. Of course we know him for his stand-up, his goofball characters from The Hangover and Dinner With Schumucks, however in this movie it is his poignant, heart-warming moments when he lets you in with his defensive sarcasm or empty eyes that truly capture you. Don't get me wrong, he also brings his masterful comedic timing to induce some laugh out loud moments. The chemsitry between Bobby and Craig is unmistakable. Craig, who sees his father as a workaholic that is oblivious to his problems finds a confidant and father figure in Bobby; who ultimately finds joy in being mentoring Craig like the father he wishes and wants to be for his daughter.

This movie brings a fresh take on coping and handling the problems and stress that plague all of us on a daily basis with it's imaginative storytelling, tangible characters and moments of levity. It will bring tears to your eyes and laughter to your bellies. Forgive my cliche, but this movie is true to its titile, it really is kind of a funny story.

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

Starring:

Casey Affleck

Michelle Monaghan

Amy Ryan

Ed Harris

Morgan Freeman

Gone Baby Gone (I know I may be 2 years late on this) is an outstanding thriller and drama. First-time director Ben Affleck gives a gritty tale of heartbreak and loss with thought-provoking and difficult choices.

A little girl named Amanda has gone missing from her South Boston neighborhood. The community rallies in front of news cameras expressing their condolences. After three days pass, Amanda's passionate aunt Bea (Amy Madigan) decides to find help outside of Boston’s finest.

She and her husband Lionel (Titus Welliver) approach inexperienced private detectives (and lovers) Patrick Kenzie (Casey Affleck) and Angie Gennaro (Michelle Monaghan) to assist in the search of her niece. Bea hopes to tap Patrick's pulse of the neighborhood and the people who inhabit it to aid in Amanda’s recovery. Affleck's brooding performance, highlighted by his quiet intensity and conflict, drives the movie. Monaghan is just as convincing in her role as a tough woman with a soft heart. The chemistry between the two is unmistakable.

So where is the mother? Well, Helene McCready (portrayed powerfully by Amy Ryan) is the bad mother, drug addict, the maternal villain, anything but an exemplary mother. However, she is a complex woman who is constantly at war with her addiction, excuses and the love for her child. You will find her to be a polarizing figure that, in the end, will evoke the entire spectrum of emotion from your heart. From being insolent to the police, to sobbingly pleading for the help to find her daughter, Ryan gives a taut and intense performance.

Despite the inexperience and the reluctance of Angie, Patrick takes the job.

Leading the investigation is Captain John Doyle (Morgan Freeman), the head of the missing children division. Freeman, known for his consistently convincing work, seemed detached from his character and did not give a performance that stands up to his reputation. Captain Doyle's detectives, Remy Bressant (Ed Harris) and Nick Poole (John Ashton) are the officers in the field that assist Patrick and Angie. Harris' performance is raw and edgy as temperamental detective Bressant.

Ben Affleck's directorial debut is one that is worthy of its praises., despite the slight choppiness in the story and plot. Being a Boston native, his knowledge of the environment is shown through his cinematography. His shots of real Boston neighborhoods and the casting Boston natives gives this movie authenticity. Boston is truly one of the stars of the film.

The story is a harsh one that deals with many tangible and intangible plights, but one umbrella theme: morality. The paradox of the human soul is dissected in many of the conflicts that arise in this film. All of the characters in this film make decisions that they believe is right. Decisions that will resonate like a pebble dropped in a lake.

Ben Affleck’s screenplay has an abundant of themes wrapped within this story of deception, corruption, loss, misguided intentions and the realization of the difficulty of choosing sides. You will find that, through this smartly adapted screenplay, the notion of “right” is different to every person in this story.

Gone Baby Gone may be, on the surface, a missing child's story. However, its lurid subject matter is just the backdrop in this gripping study of the human soul and the costs of doing the "right thing".