Whether you're pretending to be the school slut or an American spy in hiding, one thing is for certain- popularity is never your best friend! This is “Movie Night”!
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Happy New Year! And welcome to a brand new episode of “Movie Night.” I'm your host, battling a terrible cold, Jonathan Paula.
In this episode, we'll be reviewing two September releases that made their way to DVD this week, the first of which is the Emma Stone teen comedy, “Easy A.”
Grossing over nine times its $8 million budget, this film, partially inspired by “The Scarlet Letter," is about high school student Olive Penderghast, played brilliantly and delicately by Stone, who pretends to be the school slut to boost her popularity.
Eventually, though, Olive discovers her newfound fame comes at the cost of her reputation and self-esteem. As far as teen comedies go, “Easy A” is an absolute winner.
It truly and accurately portrays all of the cliques and petty squabbling of a high school rumor mill. And while the film isn't frequently laugh-out-loud funny...
...it is a very light-hearted and positive story that will definitely have you smiling for most of the 92-minute runtime. Where the film really excels, though, is with its characters.
Each and every member of the cast does a fantastic job of bringing their respective personality to life, with Olive's parents, played hilariously by Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson, as the stand-out performances of the film.
They literally steal every scene they're in, even if the characters' actions seem a bit unrealistic for 40-something parents. And it's these strong character relationships that firmly hold this film's plot together...
...and keep you completely invested in the outcome of their fate. Also, it's a great date movie. “Easy A” is easily a witty, character-driven fun ride.
Well, that's my review. Now, let's read some of yours.
Let's bring in the Rate-o-Matic, to see how we both scored "Easy A.”
An “awesome” and a “great”! I really enjoyed this film. It was funny, there were great characters, and it really made me smile. It wasn't quite a perfect film, but there wasn't much about it that I didn't like. I scored it a “9” out of 10.
You also really enjoyed this film, praising the comedy and acting, but you were a bit disappointed with some of the more unrealistic plot elements and the cheese factor. You scored it an "8."
Now, moving forward to tonight's second film, let's take a look at “The American.” Filmed entirely on location in Europe, this films stars George Clooney as Jack, an American assassin who, after being nearly killed on a mission that goes badly...
...is dispatched to a small town in Italy for a simple gun-constructing assignment that he declares will be his last mission ever. Always looking over his shoulder, Jack befriends the local Catholic priest and later falls in love with Clara...
...your typical Italian prostitute who wishes for a escape from her lifestyle. Beautifully shot by director Anton Corbijin, “The American” is a methodically slow-paced thriller that is heavy on mood and atmosphere and light on dialogue or action.
The film's lengthy scenes without any substance will make it hard for the average viewer to appreciate the artistic cinematography and editing here, both of which are top-notch.
Clooney and English-speaking newcomer Violante Placido, who plays Clara, are both fantastic in the lead roles, portraying strong emotional connections, with very limited dialogue.
While the film was impressively able to create legitimate drama and suspense from just a few footsteps, the real action plays out in the few scenes of high-stakes cat-and-mouse gun chases...
...which provide for exciting, edge-of-your seat thrills that are expertly crafted. Unfortunately, these scenes are few and far between. “The American”'s artsy, foreign-style approach is definitely its strongest trait.
It's also its weakest, though. With a runtime of over 100 minutes, much of this film will leave traditional audiences bored and confused, but if you're patience with its pacing...
...“The American” is a rewarding film that takes you deep into the world of its characters. Slow-paced, but definitely riveting.
Those are my thoughts on “The American.” Now, let’s see what you had to say in the YouTube comments.
Definitely some strong opinions there, so let's bring in the Rate-o-Matic, to see how we both scored "The American."
A “5” and a "3." This film was more about atmosphere than action, and while it succeeded with the former, it didn't quite do enough for me to give it anything better than an "alright" movie.
You were much harsher on this film, strongly disliking it for its lack of action and slow pacing, giving it a "bad." Well, that does it for tonight's reviews. Now, let's take a look at what’s currently playing in theaters, with some Tweet Critiques.
If you're going to the movies this weekend, submit your Twitter reviews using the #JPMN hashtag, to have it featured on an upcoming episode. Next week, we'll be reviewing two comedies from 2010...
..."The Other Guys," a buddy-cop comedy starring Will Ferrell and Mark Walberg; and "Dinner for Schmucks," a goofball comedy starring Paul Rudd and Steve Carell, which comes out on DVD this Tuesday.
If you've already seen these movies, please let me know what you think about them by voting in the polls below, or by leaving a comment review. As always, I'll be picking my favorites to feature in next week's episode.
Until then, make sure to click the “subscribe” button above, so that you're notified whenever I make a new video in 2011.
My name is Jonathan Paula. Thank you for watching “Movie Night,” and have a very happy New Year! I hope to see you right back here next Friday!
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*Click on episode #260 to see Penelope randomly beep, as a way to copy Margaret II!*
