2011 in Film: Bridesmaids, The Help, Midnight in Paris

April 23, 2012

I have not been able to post movie reviews here for quite a while. And since I owe you lots of movie reviews, here it goes.

Bridesmaids

Directed by: Paul Feig

Written by: Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo

Genre: Comedy

One of my new comfort movies.

Has there been any female-driven comedies that became as hilarious and as watchable as this one? I can’t reckon. What I am really sure of is that I really had a great time watching it. And I’m saying this on my seventh time of watching this film. Look at that.

The cast is excellent. Kristen Wiig leads this troop of ladies with full intelligence and humor that I can’t get over. Rose Byrne provides a very strong antagonist for Wiig’s character, showing off full finesse and class in her scenes. Melissa McCarthy is Megan. She moves around, delivers her lines, and lives in the character she is in. She is my favorite out of the five nominees in the Best Supporting Actress (along with Bejo, Spencer, and Chastain – what a strong line-up). The rest of the actors – Ellie Kemper, Wendi McLendon – Covey, Jill Clayburgh, Jon Hamm, and Chris O’ Dowd provide reliable performances that complete the film.

The film is directed quite well, the script is hilarious and emotional, the editing must be appreciated more, and the song choices are inspired.

Is it that extraordinary? No. But whatever, I love this film, it’s very watchable, I hope it got nominated for Best Picture, and I will certainly recommend this.

Rating: B+

 

 

 

The Help

Directed by: Tate Taylor

Written by: Tate Taylor

Genre: Drama

It may have been made to make money, obviously evident by the fact that it looks lightweight, but it took me by surprise – this movie has some of recent year’s scenes with real lot of heavy drama. Not the over-the-top outbursts, but the fact that the drama of some scenes are too real. Well, more of that later.

The direction is what the film needed. The screenplay actually has some cliches and sentimental traps of a light drama. The cinematography is capable, the editing is what the scenes required, the music is very good, the production design is fantastic, and so are the costumes.

So where’s the buzz coming from, anyway?

The performances.

Emma Stone is very good, Octavia Spencer is very effective, Jessica Chastain is almost magical, and Viola Davis is….. heartbreaking in every sense of the word. No, not one-dimensional. With the small time she is given (this is one of those fairly divided storylines), she was able to stand out from the rest. And about the Davis vs. Streep face-off at the Oscars, I am still undecided (that’s how good they were). Bryce Dallas Howard is deliciously evil, Sissy Spacek is hilarious, and Cicely Tyson gives one of the briefest heartbreaking performances that has ever appeared in the cinema. Five minutes, I guess, but she haunted me.

So, is there anything to get excited about? Maybe not. But here is a film with a lot of heart. We need that these days. I even watched it twice in a row.

Rating: A-

 

 

 

Midnight in Paris

Directed by: Woody Allen

Written by: Woody Allen

Genre: Romantic-Comedy / Fantasy

Truth be cleared: this is not Woody’s comeback. He’s never been that far, you know. See 2008 for Vicky Cristin Barcelona.

Going back to this, I really had some good time with this. It was light, yet it was smart – rare combination, by the way. The film all-in-all feels fresh, looks fresh, and is fresh. The direction makes the film very classy, very precise, and very delightful. The screenplay is fantastic. The cinematography should have gotten more notices, the editing is what the film needed, the music choices are amusing, the production design is pretty impressive, and they got some pretty good costumes.

The acting fares good, also. Owen Wilson does a very fine job as the leading man. We also have here some very good display of acting from Kathy Bates, Corey Stoll, Marion Cotillard, Adrien Brody, Mimi Kennedy, Rachel McAdams, and Michael Sheen.

It’s really a delightful, delightful, delightful film that uses nostalgia quite wisely to set up the atmosphere of the film. It’s not mindblowing, but you must see this.

Rating: A-

 

 

More 2011 movie reviews soon!

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