Showing posts with label Julia Roberts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Julia Roberts. Show all posts
Valentine's Day
9.23.2010
Rating: PG-13
Movie Release Date: February 12, 2010
DVD Release Date: May 18, 2010
Plot 411: An interwoven story about people who live in L.A. on Valentine's Day.
Review: This movie tries to pull off a heartfelt statement about love in L.A. ala Love Actually and a massive ensemble cast. However, I don't think it has quite enough heart to follow in those footsteps. The various plot lines are as moving. They don't tug quite so hard at your heartstrings. It's as if we're just following these people around for a day in the life or something just as moronic. The movie opens up with Reed (Ashton Kutcher) proposing to his girlfriend Morley (Jessica Alba). Most of his friends, including BFF Julia (Jennifer Garner) and Alphonso (George Lopez), are surprised when they find out she says yes. The multiple storyline unfolds here with kid love, teen love and even senior love. The all-star cast is great, but they don't seem able to pull off a really solid American representative of Love Actually. Also in this film are Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Julia Roberts, Emma Roberts, Hector Elizondo, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Jamie Foxx, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Shirley MacLaine, Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner and Taylor Swift. Phew, by the time you say all their names the flick is over. My bet is that they signed up for this project hoping to get paid for not doing much. It probably worked.
Watch It: If you want to catch a glimpse of stars young and old.
Skip It: And watch the British version, which is better hands down. Who said Brits were cold and stuffy?
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Mystic Pizza
9.14.2010
Rating: R
Movie Release Date: October 21, 1988
DVD Release Date: January 9, 2001
Plot 411: Three friends struggle with love and life in small town Connecticut.
Review: This movie is like the female version of Diner, and it stars Julia Roberts as Daisy, Annabeth Gish as Kat and Lili Taylor as JoJo. The three girls are best friends (with Daisy and Kat being sisters) who work at a pizza joint in a small fishing town in Connecticut. They are all struggling with different identity crisises. Daisy feels threatened by her sister's impending departure to Yale and wonders about her future. Her way of dealing with this is to live up to her rep of wild nights. However, when she meets rich guy Charlie (Adam Storke) she dares to hope for a better future. Studious Kat envies her sister's carefree attitude and longs to fall in love. When she takes on a new babysitting job, she is drawn to her boss Tim (William R. Moses) despite his age and the fact that he's married. JoJo's problem is not the lack of a lover nor any doubt about her future. These are, in fact, her problems. After fainting at the alter, she isn't sure she's ready to marry her fiance Bill (Vincent D'Onofrio) and feels suffocated by her impending future. This is a great coming-of-age flick with which most girls will be able to relate. Small-town girls with big-city dreams is always a good theme. I really liked Gish's subtlety contrasted with Roberts' brash nature. And boy, did Roberts' have some big assets in this movie that I didn't notice her having before. She was J-Lo before there even was a J-Lo. Taylor was perfectly neurotic in her role, which made it all the funnier. We even get a peak at a very young Matt Damon in this movie.
Movie Release Date: October 21, 1988
DVD Release Date: January 9, 2001
Plot 411: Three friends struggle with love and life in small town Connecticut.
Review: This movie is like the female version of Diner, and it stars Julia Roberts as Daisy, Annabeth Gish as Kat and Lili Taylor as JoJo. The three girls are best friends (with Daisy and Kat being sisters) who work at a pizza joint in a small fishing town in Connecticut. They are all struggling with different identity crisises. Daisy feels threatened by her sister's impending departure to Yale and wonders about her future. Her way of dealing with this is to live up to her rep of wild nights. However, when she meets rich guy Charlie (Adam Storke) she dares to hope for a better future. Studious Kat envies her sister's carefree attitude and longs to fall in love. When she takes on a new babysitting job, she is drawn to her boss Tim (William R. Moses) despite his age and the fact that he's married. JoJo's problem is not the lack of a lover nor any doubt about her future. These are, in fact, her problems. After fainting at the alter, she isn't sure she's ready to marry her fiance Bill (Vincent D'Onofrio) and feels suffocated by her impending future. This is a great coming-of-age flick with which most girls will be able to relate. Small-town girls with big-city dreams is always a good theme. I really liked Gish's subtlety contrasted with Roberts' brash nature. And boy, did Roberts' have some big assets in this movie that I didn't notice her having before. She was J-Lo before there even was a J-Lo. Taylor was perfectly neurotic in her role, which made it all the funnier. We even get a peak at a very young Matt Damon in this movie.
Watch It: For a great '80s teen flick of doubt, soul searching and hormones.
Skip It: And go straight to Diner.
Eat Pray Love
8.29.2010
Rating: PG-13
Movie Release Date: August 13, 2010
DVD Release Date: TBD
Plot 411: After a bad divorce, a woman travels to Italy, India and Indonesia to find her balance.
Review: Liz (Julia Roberts) realizes one day that the life she lives with her husband Stephen (Billy Crudup) is not the life for her anymore. She has grown apart from him despite her love for her. She files for divorce and struggles to find herself but ends up falling into the arms of another man (James Franco). She struggles to find herself after years of co-dependency and decides to take a yearlong vacation to revitalize her spirit and give herself a new perspective. Unfortunately, even Julia Roberts cannot save this movie. I was hoping to walk away refreshed and inspired with a feeling that I could fulfill my dreams. I was hoping this movie would show me that Liz overcame her obstacles and was able to climb mountains afterwards. But this movie was a lot more subtle than that. It was a lot more introspective than I was expecting. The movie didn't profess any kind of wisdom. It didn't call to my spirit of adventure like a lone wolf howling into the night. I think this kind of journey is something that can only be experienced firsthand. It definitely was not captured on film. Also in this film are Richard Jenkins and Javier Bardem.
Watch It: For a quick trip around the world to three very different countries.
Skip It: And get out there and have your own spiritual journey.
Movie Release Date: August 13, 2010
DVD Release Date: TBD
Plot 411: After a bad divorce, a woman travels to Italy, India and Indonesia to find her balance.
Review: Liz (Julia Roberts) realizes one day that the life she lives with her husband Stephen (Billy Crudup) is not the life for her anymore. She has grown apart from him despite her love for her. She files for divorce and struggles to find herself but ends up falling into the arms of another man (James Franco). She struggles to find herself after years of co-dependency and decides to take a yearlong vacation to revitalize her spirit and give herself a new perspective. Unfortunately, even Julia Roberts cannot save this movie. I was hoping to walk away refreshed and inspired with a feeling that I could fulfill my dreams. I was hoping this movie would show me that Liz overcame her obstacles and was able to climb mountains afterwards. But this movie was a lot more subtle than that. It was a lot more introspective than I was expecting. The movie didn't profess any kind of wisdom. It didn't call to my spirit of adventure like a lone wolf howling into the night. I think this kind of journey is something that can only be experienced firsthand. It definitely was not captured on film. Also in this film are Richard Jenkins and Javier Bardem.
Watch It: For a quick trip around the world to three very different countries.
Skip It: And get out there and have your own spiritual journey.
Stepmom
3.04.2010
Rating: PG-13
Movie Release Date: December 25, 1998
DVD Release Date: April 13, 1999
Plot 411: A woman struggles to win over her boyfriend's children despite all her good intentions.
Movie Release Date: December 25, 1998
DVD Release Date: April 13, 1999
Plot 411: A woman struggles to win over her boyfriend's children despite all her good intentions.
Review: Isabel (Julia Roberts) is dating a man (Ed Harris) many years her senior and finds it almost impossible to become friends with his children (Jena Malone and Liam Aiken). The kids are hurt and angry due to their parents' divorce and think of Isabel as the enemy. They don't like her and don't respect her. The ex-wife, Jackie (Susan Sarandon), also despises her because she is so young and inexperienced. However, when push comes to shove, the welfare of the children take precedence and everyone learns to live, love and work together. This was an incredible movie that was made during Roberts' heyday. I feel like during this time she could do no wrong. Everything she touched turned to gold as she was America's sweetheart. The movie cleverly juxtaposes sadness and hope. It demonstrates the simple power of love and the importance of family. Sarandon and Roberts worked so well together. This is definitely a tear jerker.
Watch It: And you'll want to phone your mother just to tell her you love her.
Skip It: Unless you don't have any plans the following day. Otherwise, you'll have to find a way to make red, puffy eyes the hottest fashion trend.
Hook
3.02.2010
Rating: PG
Movie Release Date: December 11, 1991
DVD Release Date: March 21, 2000
Plot 411: Peter Pan returns to Neverland as an adult who doesn't remember his past as leader of the Lost Boys.
Review: I remember loving this movie as a kid because of all the magic and wonder. It was also fun and action packed, telling a well-known tale with a twist. However, after watching this trailer, the movie feels outdated. The CGI has definitely be surpassed by today's technology. Robin Williams plays Peter Banning, the former Peter Pan who left Never Never Land to live in the real world. Since then, he has become a workaholic who rarely spends time with his family. He has lost all memories of his former self and the joy and freedom he used to possess. When Peter's son and daughter are kidnapped by Hook (Dustin Hoffman), Tinkerbell (Julia Roberts) takes him back to Neverland to save them. The movie is a follow up to the original film and addresses issues such as love, work/life balance, adventure and freedom. I think it has a nice overall message and advises people to stop and smell the roses once in a while. This movie also stars Maggie Smith as Wendy and Dante Basco as Rufio.
Watch It: To pause and think about what is truly valuable in your life.
Skip It: In favor of the 1953 animated version.
Movie Release Date: December 11, 1991
DVD Release Date: March 21, 2000
Plot 411: Peter Pan returns to Neverland as an adult who doesn't remember his past as leader of the Lost Boys.
Review: I remember loving this movie as a kid because of all the magic and wonder. It was also fun and action packed, telling a well-known tale with a twist. However, after watching this trailer, the movie feels outdated. The CGI has definitely be surpassed by today's technology. Robin Williams plays Peter Banning, the former Peter Pan who left Never Never Land to live in the real world. Since then, he has become a workaholic who rarely spends time with his family. He has lost all memories of his former self and the joy and freedom he used to possess. When Peter's son and daughter are kidnapped by Hook (Dustin Hoffman), Tinkerbell (Julia Roberts) takes him back to Neverland to save them. The movie is a follow up to the original film and addresses issues such as love, work/life balance, adventure and freedom. I think it has a nice overall message and advises people to stop and smell the roses once in a while. This movie also stars Maggie Smith as Wendy and Dante Basco as Rufio.
Watch It: To pause and think about what is truly valuable in your life.
Skip It: In favor of the 1953 animated version.
My Best Friend's Wedding
2.26.2009
Rating: PG-13
Movie Release Date: June 20, 1997
DVD Release Date: December 10, 1997
Plot 411: A guy and a girl are best friends forever until all hell breaks loose when he tells her that he's met someone and is getting married.
Review: This is one of my all-time favorite rom-coms. I love Julia Roberts in this and Cameron Diaz is her normal perky self. This movie got me through many bad days in high school and into college and helped me believe that there's always hope for happiness. One of the best things about this film is that Roberts' character is very realistic (although I don't know if some of her actions are). The idea that her friendship with this guy is hers and hers alone probably how many people feel. When someone new comes into the picture, whether it's on the guy's part or the girl's, it rocks the boat and people like to cling to the norm. This film addresses change, and change in a major way.
Watch It: For great rom-com bungles and beats, some singing and great one-liners.
Skip It: If Roberts' mouth is too big, Diaz is too perky or you just can't stand Dermot Mulroney's monotone voice.
Trailer:
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