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Reviews
The Help (2011)
The book is better
I liked the book. I thought it was a bit fluffy, but it didn't quite cross the line into schlock. The movie, however, had too many melodramatic moments, especially toward the end. I'd have to read the book again, but I don't remember the scene where Abilene's church has a celebration for her, or where Abilene and Minnie tell Skeeter to not worry about them, that her success in New York will make what they did worth it. I could be wrong. Maybe it just didn't seem as sappy in the book.
I also thought the movie actually minimized the attitude that whites had toward blacks by making it seem like the racism in Jackson came from mean-spirited people like Hilly, as if it wasn't rampant among everyone.
The whole pie-eating thing trivialized what the maids went through and how they must have retaliated at times. It was too over-the-top in the movie and too much emphasis was put on it to the detriment of other parts of the story that would have rounded it out better.
If you're on the fence on whether or not to see the movie, do yourself a favor and read the book. It might take a little longer, but it will be a more satisfying experience.
Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)
I NEVER watch a movie more than once...
...Okay, almost never. But as soon as Crazy, Stupid, Love was over, I wanted to see it again. I agree with the first reviewer that this is one of the best romantic comedies of the decade.
I couldn't have been more surprised at my reaction. After all, it's a Steve Carell movie. I like him well enough, but his movies have usually left me mildly amused. In this film, he shows a depth of emotion that he had only hinted at before.
But the character who got to me the most was Ryan Gosling. His performance was amazing. Everyone did an excellent job, but his character showed a range that I didn't expect.
This movie was sometimes a little crazy, but definitely not stupid. And its heart was pure love.
Mooz-Lum (2010)
Great story, low budget
It's not entirely fair for me to say that "Mooz-lum" was made on a low budget. I don't really know the facts on that. But it did seem to have some rough spots that wouldn't have been there if it had been a "typical" Hollywood movie.
For the most part, the acting was excellent. I'd really be surprised if the main character, Evan Ross, doesn't become more well-known as an actor. Strangely enough, Danny Glover wasn't that good in this movie. He acted almost like he didn't want to be there.
Some of the photography, especially at the beginning, was really beautiful. And the use of Qur'an recitations made for an authentic and haunting atmosphere.
The movie moves back and forth in time which I didn't catch on to right away. The earlier times were filmed in sepia with color tinting and the present was in full color.
I don't want to go into the story line itself for fear of spoiling it. But I will say that it's not quite what most people probably expect. The main character is s young man who was raised quite strictly as a Muslim and is now going to a secular college where he has to struggle with what being a Muslim means to him. That sounds kind of generic, but there's a plot twist that keeps it from being trite.
I was a little disappointed that there were no Caucasian Muslims in the film, because I'm afraid that it gave the impression that all Muslims are Arab or black and that's simply not true.
But overall, I was impressed with the film and recommend it to others, Muslim and non-Muslim alike.
Taking Lives (2004)
Give credit where it's due.
Did anyone else think the cinematography was great? (Especially during the opening credits.) Movies with the tightest scripts and the most unsolvable mysteries can still leave me cold if the movie is shot badly or is put together with no imagination. This movie deserves a higher score because it gets that part so right.
I can live with the inconsistencies (I don't know many movies that don't have them). Ditto for the plot twists that weren't all that twisty. And let's face it: was the sex scene gratuitous, or is it that Jolie is just so damn sexy?
Yes, I figured out who the killer was right away. But so what? After all, the book this movie was based on tells you right up front who the killer is; the thrill is in seeing how long he is able to get away with it. The book was more menacing, but the movie is right in your face.
Let's put it this way: the book was engrossing, but it didn't have me on the edge of my seat the way the movie did. And it definitely didn't cause me to scream.
Don't be afraid to see this; it's good enough for an evening's entertainment. But then again, you could look up the book (if I could remember its title).