2nd Movie: Orphan

Esther leaves the orphanage with her new victims, I mean parents.

Okay peeps, my second film in my Christmas Movie Madness Marathon (I just named it that!). The movie I watched this time was Orphan.

Ladies and gentlemen... we have a creepa

Without even reading the back of the DVD box, or the synopsis on IMDB, you can pretty much tell what you're in for before popping it in. It's the oldest story in the world, family adopts kid, kid isn't who they seem to be, parent begins suspecting something is off leading to a huge, nail-biting finale. Maybe that isn't the oldest story in the world but close.

Esther joins her new family

John and Kate Coleman(Peter Sarsgaard and Vera Farminga) are a married couple looking to adopt a child after the loss of their unborn baby. While visiting an orphanage, John and Kate are charmed by a little girl named Esther(Isabelle Fuhrman). They adopt her and bring her home to join their family, but Esther is not who she seems or who she claims to be. Soon all the problems in John and Kate's marriage that were once resolved resurface and horrible and chilling incidents begin to occur whenever Esther is around. Kate begins to suspect that the perfect little girl she adopted, might be dangerous, now she must figure out who Esther is and where she came from before her whole family is swallowed up in her deceit.

Yeah... I hate it when psycho little girls are watching me.

Orphan was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, the director of one of my favorite horror films, House of Wax. But don't let that fool you. Orphan is not a horror film. For some it might be, but it's more of a thriller/intense drama. Those who are looking for a good scare will be very disappointed with Orphan.

And to think, when I was a kid I was scared of monsters under the bed! No kids, it's your adopted siblings you should fear.

The movie itself is beautiful to look at. The snow covered surroundings, the muted color scheme and distinct camera angles makes this film pleasing to the eye. There are also several running themes in the movie. For one, reflections and mirrored surfaces are huge in this film and it's identity. The characters themselves are all facing trials in their lives, and fighting to keep their lives stable. The characters are trying to figure out who they are and where their lives are going and the mirrored surfaces reflects this beautifully, because only when they face themselves, face the truth can they overcome the evil in their lives.

What the hell has that little bitch done now!?!?

As for the acting, it's great! Peter Sarsgaard is pitch-perfect in this part. As for Vera Farmiga, I was a little disappointed at first that they chose her for the role, but she really stood up and took control of her character. At first I kept re-casting her in my head, someone like Jennifer Esposito, Elisabeth Shue or Sarah Michelle Gellar, but she really stepped up. Isabelle Fuhrman did beautifully as the psycho kid. She kept me loving to hate her! She disturbed me but at the same time showed a great innocence to me.

Is she listening? Yeah, I think she's listening.

The other children actors were absolute stars too! Aryana Engineer and Jimmy Bennett shine in their roles as the siblings of Esther. They are going to be huge one of these days, mark my words.

Aryana Engineer is creeped by her new sibling.

Another thing I noticed about this movie is how crafted it was. The characters would do something bad, or do something that would set off alarms with the audience before something horrible happens. A promiscuous woman flirts with John before Esther pushes a little girl off a slide, A nun reaches for her cigarettes before her ultimate downfall, a little boy hides a porno magazine under a tree house floor board where Esther would soon hide the evidence of one of her dreadful crimes. It's all very set up to give the audience an inkling to whats to come.

Peter Sarsgaard and Vera Farmiga in Orphan. No smartass comment for this pic!

All in all the movie is awesome. The ending will sideswipe you! You'll never see it coming. I guessed up until the ending and I was still wrong!!! The secret of Esther is disturbing and will rattle you to the core. So check it out for a good thrill, but don't expect too many scares.

There's something wrong with Esther...

1st Movie: The Ugly Truth

Awesome graphic design for The Ugly Truth.

Romantic comedies for the last several years have been extremely careful. I haven't seen one that has portrayed a realistic human relationship that has gotten across as well as The Ugly Truth has. They've all been so safe, showing a perfect ending where the lady always gets her knight and shinging armor and live happily ever after. It always ends perfect, but hey, thats the way the audience likes it right? Well... yes and know. I remember as a kid watching Pretty Woman, Sleepless in Seattle and all those other chick/romantic movies that made you feel warm and fuzzy at the end and everything turend out perfect. We love it when there's a happy ending and the guy gets the girl and its all happy-go-lucky, but at the same time, we know it's just Hollywood. This movie has a way to do that, but at the same time make us not want to barf all over ourselves because of all the mushy, gushy loveingness in it.

Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler prove their chemistry is anything but ugly.

The Ugly Truth stars the delightful Katherine Heigl as an uptight female producer, Abby, who's TV morning news show is in trouble. The station then brings in an outrageous, straight-talker, Mike, who tells the ugly truth, or his version of it about men, women and relationships. He is a hit with everyone on the show and the audience except for Abby. Abby then meets a handsome doctor who meets all the guidelines of her idea of a perfect man. Abby makes a deal with Mike, if he can get her the man of her dreams then she'll work with him to make the show as successful as possible, but if he can't, then he has to quit.

This movie is crud, harsh, unforgiving and completely outrageous. It crosses the line sooo many times, and I honestly wasn't expecting it to be this insane!!!!! And I relished every minute of it!!! It was an awesome movie and all the actors really brought there A game. Gerard Butler is hilarious and Katherine Heigl is a breath of freah air as always.

The movie has many shocking statements and moments in it. My favorite part is when she wears vibrating underwear at a dinner meeting with TV executives and begins to have an orgasim. I love it so much and it made me love Katherine Heigl as an actress even more than I already did.

The scene that even gave me good vibrations!

And yes, it does have a typical Hollywood, romantic ending, but not the kind that makes you want to blow your brains out. It's real and touching. There's nothing phony about it in one of the ending scenes she asks him "You're in love with me. Why?" he then says "Beaths the shit out of me, but I am." It's real and it's ugly, it's the ugly truth! Hey maybe thats why they named the movie the way they did!!! But seriously, go get it, rent it, just see it. It's sure to put a smile on your face and make you go "OMG! Did he really just say that?"

5 Movies, 5 Day's Till Christmas Eve.

Okay peeps, I'm going to be doing another movie marathon! I'll be watching a movie a day up until Christmas Eve then posting my reviewa of them. I know some of them are kinda old, but I haven't seen them, and this is my blog so... yeah. Don't be expecting them to be warmhearted Christmas tales, because I am just not into that at all!!! If any of you have been reading the reviews of movies I've done in the past, you know that my taste in movies are a little twisted. Don't get me wrong! I love musicals, comedies all kinds of movies, but I'm in a horror-esqe kinda mood this Holiday season, I mean, after all, it is Christmas! Some of the movies I selected, are odd balls, but I like variety. So I hope you enjoy! My first post will be later on tonight!

Movies That Are Underrated: Marnie

Tippi Hedren and 007 star in Marnie

The opening scene of Marnie shows a close up of a yellow purse being held by a woman walking away. The last word we hear in the movie is "purse." As Mark and Marnie get into a cab we hear a school rhyme chanted by little girls jumping rope "... go call the lady with the alligator purse." Between these two visuals, we get Alfred Hitchcock's most misunderstood masterpieces. It's time to do another movie that is greatly under appreciated. The last one I did was The Stepford Wives. and that was ages ago, so I decided to do another one. This time I'll be talking about Alfred Hitchcock's Marnie, his most underrated works, though recently Hitchcock film experts have tried their hardest to bring attention to the great injustice that was given to Marnie when it was first released. Marnie followed two of Hitchcock's most praised works, Psycho and The Birds, so when you look at these two films and then see Marnie, it's like... "what?" In many ways I can see how it was a great shock to the film critics at the time, but nonetheless, Marnie is a powerful tale of human emotion and should be re-visited.

Marnie and Mark try to work out their marital issues... that what you get for marrying a compulsive thief.

Marnie tells the tale of a compulsive female thief, who goes from town to town robbing companies blind. She gains their trust as a secretary or assistant of some kind, then, when the moment is right, she goes to their safe and empties it. All goes well for Marnie until she begins working for Mark Rutland, who catches her and he plans to tame her like a wild animal by marrying her. It all leads to an inevitable and heartbreaking ending.

The heartbreaking ending.

Marnie was released in 1964, a year after he released The Birds. Film critics went to see it with images of fluttering wings and menacing talons still fresh in their minds. They left feeling unsatisfied. I, personally, don't think they gave it a fair chance and for some reason completely missed the mark with their reviews and failed to see the significance of this enthralling film.

"I've caught something wild haven't I?"

While I can see why the film itself did not have as much detail in it as his former works. Hitchcock grew obsessed with the main star, Tippi Hedren. His obsession was so intense that it dominated the entire set. His attempts to woo her left him distracted from his work, many Hitchcock researchers feel the movie suffered because of this. He would send flowers and champagne, little letters to her trailer and to her home. He began controlling every aspect of her life, right down to what she would wear. Diane Baker, who played Marnie's rival in the film, remembers feeling physically ill due to all the tension on the set. Hitchcock would watch intensely while Tippi and Sean Connery(her love interest in the film.) would do a scene. Every time he felt that Connery was acting a little too well he would yell "Cut! Get your hands off the girl." It was tiresome and Tippi and the rest of the cast and crew became greatly irritated by it.

Hitch gives Tippi some direction.

The problem was, Tippi was signed to an exclusive contract by Hitchcock and she felt trapped. She finally begged to be let out of it. "I'll ruin your career." he told Tippi, and she later said that he did. He blackballed her all around Hollywood after Marnie was complete.

Tippi preparing for a scene.

Despite the problems behind the scenes, Marnie is still a very strong work and shouldn't be looked at lightly. Tippi Hedren gives an outstanding performance as Marnie and Sean Connery's acting is up to par. But it's Tippi Hedren who shines in this film, though critics said she was far too expressive. It would take years for Tippi to get the respect she deserved from both The Birds and Marnie. For this to be Tippi's second movie, and for her to make us feel completely heartbroken for her and care for her character is a testament to her talent as an actress.

The party scene.

In many ways, Mark's obsession to 'tame' Marnie and trap her reflects Hitchcock's and Tippi's relationship in real life perfectly. Again we see several themes in this movie that are typical Hitchcock. We have the blond bombshell who is manipulative, we have the theme of motherhood and how dangerous it can be and of course we have the beautiful, powerful, strong, independent woman being completely crushed and obliterated at the end (Much like Kim Novak in Vertigo, Janet Lee in Psycho, Tippi Hedren in The Birds, etc...), but one of the dominant themes that runs rampant in this particular film is sex. Hitchcock is a little more upfront about sex in this film than he is in, lets say, Vertigo or North by Northwest. We actually have a rape scene that is powerful and bitter. The overall movie leaves you feeling like the characters... refreshed and renewed. The beginning of a brand new day and hope for redemption.

Hitch made Psycho, The Birds and Marnie in that order, but I don't think it was by accident. I think Psycho was the crime, The Birds was the punishment and Marnie was the forgiveness and hope for a new beginning.

A touching scene between James Bon... I mean Sean Connery and Tippi Hedren.

Marnie is a true classic and should be more respected, but alas, the film critics of it's day have spoken and their is no way to turn back time. I used to work at Hollywood Video, and I remember a man I worked with looking through the movies to see which one he wanted to rent that evening. He held up one movie to another employee and, to my surprise, didn't ask if it was good, or had he seen it, but asked "What the reviews were on this movie." When the other employee said they were poor, he threw the movie back into the pile and got another one. This is a perfect example of how movies like Marnie are overlooked. So next time you go to see or rent a movie, see what other people have to say about it. Try not to rely too much on what professional film critics say, you never know when you'll have another Marnie on your hands.

"She took my money... I ain't sayin she a gold digga"

SCREWED UP!!!!

So I looked at my last post and it's really screwed up! I hope ya'll can understand it! LOL! Thats all I really had to say!

Later!

-Dustin

My Current Obsessions

panacea81 also known as Lauren Luke can be found on YouTube

I am so obsessed with this woman who does makeup on YouTube! She's amazing!

What's funny is I don't wear make up! I just love watching her and hearing her talk

and do these amazing looks that are killer wicked. When it comes down to it, she's

an artist. She does amazing looks based on celebrities and just everyday makeup looks.

She's gotten so successful that Sephora has her doing her own makeup line! She's

a major success story and she's a brilliant person. Please check her out!

Her Makeup Line: http://www.bylaurenluke.com/

Her YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/panacea81?gl=GB&hl=en-GB

Rihanna: Rated R

The "Good Girl Gone Bad" has done gone gangsta!

So I've always loved Rihanna! I've always thought she was talented and great, I just

didn't like that she went back to her abusive boyfriend. But now she's dumped Chris

Brown and she's doing wonderful for herself. Her first single, Russian Roulette has

been a smash and now Hard is doing great! She's proven she has the stay power,

but she put it best in Hard when she said "That Rihanna rain Just won't let up."

Desperate Housewives

Susan tries to talk some sense into a messed up Kathryn

I am so into Desperate Housewives!!! OMG!!! I've been watching it since episode 1 but I just can't stop! It's even gottn more amazing over the years!

One storyline thats big, or was until last night's episode, was Kathryn going absolutely batty! Ever since Susan married Mike, Kathryn

has gone insane. So far she's stalked him, tried to turn Susan's own child against her, watched them through the windows and stabbed

herself claiming that Mike did it. I know some people claim that the show has gotten tired, but I disagree. Last night a plan crashed into

the middle of their lovely Christmas celebration. The plot lines are all pieced together so maticulously. I love it and I won't stop watching

until they decide to throw in the towel!

ABC Wednesdays!

ABC is the place to be on Wednesdays!

Yes! I love ABC Wednesdays! Cougar Town, Modern Family and Eastwick are amazing shows! Cougar Town might be my favorite though!

Cougar Town is about a recently divorced mother who is balancing her career, her love life and her crazy friends. The relationships on this show are great!

Her two main friends are a middle aged next door neighbor and a twenty something who works in her office. She also has the guy across the street

as, what she likes to call him, a paper buddy! It's so ridiculous and insane! You have to watch to even get what I'm saying because their is so much I

can say about this show and not even give it justice! But yes it is hilarious! It also stars Courtney Cox from Friends who proves she still has what it takes.

Then there's Modern Family. Oh how I love this show, mainly because it has the beautiful Julie Bowen in it, but anyway, it's about a family, a father

who has remarried a hot latina and his full grown children who have families of their own. His son is a gay man who is married and has a child of his own,

while his other child, a daughter, is also married and has three kids. The show is outrages and makes you want to be a part of this family! I love it!

The final show is Eastwick. It is a Sex and the City in Salem. It's about three women who's lives are turned upside down when a mysterious man moves

to their quiet little town. They begin to realize they have extraordinary powers. The show is comedy and drama mixed, much like Desperate Housewives,

which is probably why I like it. The show is not original by any means, it's based on the 1987 movie "The Witches of Eastwick" which was based on a book.

I really didn't think I'd like it, but I do. They've put their own little twist on it which is the most I can ask for. So check out ABC Wednesdays! You won't

regret it!

The Fame: Monster

GaGa ooh la la

I just had to do a review on this album! I'm in-love with it, and to be honest I am surprised, pleasantly surprised. I really didn't think she could top The Fame but she did! Her first huge single was Bad Romance, it gave us a taste of what Monster would be like. Here's the video!

She has never looked better!

The video has themes running ramped through it! We first see her crawling out out of a white tank, she has covering over her eyes, this represents coming into a love affair blind and vulnerable. We then see her with(animated) huge eyes. To me this is like her bright eye child coming out in her. As children we are bright eyed and open, willing to accept everything and anything that will love us. This is how she is, playing in a bathtub acting like all is fine. The bathtub is another representation of security, she's happy in this toxic relationship. Then two women violently rip her from the bathtub and try making her drink from a cup. She takes it and spits it back in their faces. This is her being fed the truth about her relationship but refusing to accept it.

Big eyed GaGa

Things get worse after she refuses to accept what she knows. We then see her at some sort of a slave auction where men bid on her. Somehow giving in to her lover's sick fantasy. He bids on her and wins. We then see her approaching her lover's bed, but she stops and the bed is set on fire. She then does a peppy little number in a red outfit. The red representing her independence, for now she is free from the relationship because she killed her lover... well, literally in the video she did, but in reality it means she has broken off the relationship and is now free.

Taking a few tips from Farrah in "The Burning Bed"

She's a free bitch baby!

Through out the video we also see disturbing visuals of her spine. This is her growing a backbone so she can stand up for herself. In the last scene when she whips off her polar bear coat we get a close up of her back, it's now fully grown. It's an amazing video and she's never looked better! She has come a long way from her bangs and big sunglasses. Don't get me wrong, she was awesome then too, but this is her transformation. Keeping it fresh with GaGa!

Yeah... it's a bit disturbing.

The entire album is just as amazing! the songs are all wonderful, some of my favs are Telephone, Monster and of course Speechless. This is GaGa like you've never seen her before, a darker GaGa. The cover art for The Fame shows her sparkleing and bright, with sunglasses and a smile, the cover of The Fame: Monster shows her in a dark, stringy wig with runny eyeliner and an almost desperate look on her face. This is The Fame, but the darkside of The Fame, what people don't see. The sunglasses are off, revealing whats happeneing behind all the glitz and glamour.

The cover of The Fame, showing the glitz and glam.

The cover of The Fame: Monster, showing the darkside of all that glitters.

All in all the album is great. It's a short album(Only 8 songs) but it's well worth the $7.00 bucks.

The glitter falls...

GaGa shoes to the extreme!

OMG!!! It's been SOOOOOO long!!!!

So sorry it's been like... 3 months! OMG! My life has been so crazed! So much has happened, GaGa came out with a new album, Rihanna came out with a new album, Rihanna got abused, Desperate Housewives has gotten crazy! I mean... wow! I've missed out on so much!

Just a little update, Halloween is my favorite holliday and guess what I dressed up as? LADY GAGA of course!!! I thought it'd be fun and it was! I'll be posting pictures as soon as my mother emails them to me. Getting my mother to do anything is like pulling teeth from a walrus... I've never done that, but I imagine it's pretty hard. So there you go! And update for my followers... if I have any! LOL!

much love!
-Dustin