Movie: The Help

Rating: PG-13

Release date: August 10, 2011

Everyday Adventures’ grade: A-

Summary: In 1960s Jackson, MS, it’s standard for homes to have African American maids, many of whom raise the kids from baby to adult and work for households for their entire life. At this time in Jackson, three women: Skeeter (Emma Stone), Abileen (Viola Davis) and Minny (Octavia Spencer) form a bond to try and break stereotypes from this time.

My thoughts: For me, the only other movie I cried as hard at was Up. When I read the book, I cried/sobbed at one part, but seeing the entire book acted on screen, I cried several more times, to the point where I was wearing sunglasses for the rest of the day because my eyes were so red.

I did enjoy this movie. It’s been a while since I read the book but I thought it was a pretty accurate adaptation of it too. There were a few parts within each character’s story that were cut back for time, but I didn’t feel that something was missing.

I had some initial casting concerns but overall, everyone was VERY strong. Bryce Dallas Howard wasn’t the exact embodiment of Hilly I envisioned, but oh my god she was good. She was cold, cutting and awesome to watch. She took that character over and made her as unforgiving and cruel as in the book but without even batting an eye. Emma Stone as Skeeter was good too. I have a bit of a girl crush on Emma Stone anyhow and despite tragic hair (which I didn’t envision either), I thought she would have a bit more spit and fire in her. But her scenes with Allison Janney, talking about the maid who raised her, made me weep too. She can emotionally deliver and make the reaction believable. LOVE HER. I did have a hard time watching parts of the movie, but given that it’s a depiction of what race relations were like during that time, that’s to be expected.

Of the other major leads, Viola Davis stole the show. I definitely smell an Oscar or at least Golden Globe nomination for her. I had the same sense about Melissa Leo too and was right. The heart, emotion and pain she brings to the character of Abileen is really visible and makes you become more emotionally invested in her character. Knowing how her relationship with her current charge, Mae Mobley ends, ugh, cut me so deep. That’s when the convulsing sobs came in. But she brought Abileen to life and made it hard to take your eyes off her.

I only had one drawback to the movie, which is difficult to articulate. I just felt like something was…missing. I loved that book, could not stop reading and didn’t want to, but when I watched the movie, something just felt off. I really think it’s that the transition from book to movie, you inevitably lose something, so that has to be it.

Verdict: If you read the book, see it or rent it. It’s worth it. But if you haven’t seen it, read the book first. Always!

Movie: Friends With Benefits

Rating: R

Release date: July 22, 2011

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B+

Summary: Jamie (Mila Kunis) is a sassy NY headhunter looking to score an art director at GQ (OMG LOVE THAT MAGAZINE), who happens to be Dylan (JT). Dylan moves to NY, he and Jamie become friends, but after awhile, both want a benefits only relationship, which is good because they’re both pretty emotionally and romantically damaged. That plan to be friends with benefits goes awry (as if we expected anything else.)

My thoughts: Considering I already saw a movie similar to this in fall (cough No Strings Attached), I liked this much more than I thought I would. It was witty, sharp and well written. The dialogue and chemistry between JT and Mila is really fun to watch and they have a spark.

There is also a great supporting cast, unfortunately, we don’t get to see much of them. The cameos are great too (which I won’t ruin here). Patricia Clarkson is great as Mila’s mom and Woody Harrelson is pretty funny as JT’s gay coworker. The disappointing thing is that we don’t get to see much of them or get any real insight in to who they are, they’re existing in the story only on the surface and that’s it. Don’t get more invested. Okayyyy.

While I’m picking at holes in the script, I will say that there is a tease or set up multiple times during the family and past relationship issues that seem to keep both from being happy but that never really goes anywhere. So way to set it up and leave a girl hanging. Hello how can I deal with my issues? Anyhow, the heart in this movie with the dynamic between JT and Mila and they deliver. Let’s hope JT gets back to music but these two kids can find another project together. I’d watch that.

Verdict: If you hated No Strings Attached, you might not like this. So be safe and rent it. The spark and wit between JT and Mila is worth it.

Movie: Crazy, Stupid, Love

Rating: PG-13

Release date: July 29, 2011

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B

Summary: Cal and Emily (Steve Carell and Julianne Moore) are getting a divorce, pushing Cal to probably the hottest bar in suburban Los Angeles with only pretty people. One of those pretty people is Jacob (Ryan Gosling) who helps Cal get his manhood back while navigating his post-split waters. Then Jacob meets Hannah (Emma Stone) and his man-whore ways may be changing.

My thoughts: Oh my Gosling. Okay, yeah I’ll cop to it, 90% of the reason I wanted to see this was Ryan Gosling and his…abs. And by the sighs of pure joy and lust in my theater, I wasn’t the ONLY ONE. Separate from the abs of steel that made me want to wash some clothes, Ryan Gosling really killed it in this movie. He was charming, fun and drop dead sexy as Jacob, exactly who he needed to be. He was suave without being douchy (cough JT in Social Network) and, well whomever tailored those suits to fit him so well is the luckiest b*tch I know.

Moving on, I had really high expectations for this movie (separate from the abs) and is halfway delivered. The movie is broken up in to almost three small stories between Cal and Emily, Jacob and Cal, Jacob and Hannah and Cal’s kid and his babysitter. The stories I found the most interesting were Cal and Jacob and Hannah and Jacob. The Cal and Emily storyline was a little…much. It started with Emily cheating and morphed in to something bigger and a bigger, more mythical story about soulmates. Sounds too much like Dawson’s Creek in their mid-life crisis. Julianne Moore and Steve Carell didn’t have the chemistry he did with Tina Fey in Date Night and you could tell.

Sadly, we didn’t get to see much of the Cal/Hannah dynamic either. Sure, Hannah was meant to show growth in Jacob’s character but with only one touching scene to set up his transformation it fell a little flat. But the chemistry between them was awesome. Really wish we got to see more of them together.

The super creepy storyline involved Cal’s son, who is madly in love with his babysitter, who happens to be in love with Cal. Huh, awkward. Add a little attempted sexting and inappropriate photos and you have a storyline that keeps happening on screen and wishing you could look away. Creepy.

But either way, there were some really funny parts, hot suits on Ryan Gosling and it reaffired my crush on Emma Stone. Seriously, that girl can do no wrong.

Verdict: Go see it, if nothing else, than for Ryan Gosling’s abs. That sh*t won’t look nearly as hot on the small screen. Ladies, treat yourself.

Movie: Midnight in Paris

Rating: PG-13

Release date: May 20, 2011

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B

Summary: Americans Gil and Inez (Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams) are in Paris on a “freeloading vacation” with her family as he continues to work on his first book. Gil dreams of Paris in the 20s while Inez harps and then one night, he is magically transported back to 1920s Paris, where he gets to meet his writing idols and wonder if the grass is really greener in this idealized time.

My thoughts: This pains me a bit, but after hearing all of the buzz about this movie, I thought it would be a bit…better. I didn’t hate it but had a little higher expectations. First, the scenery is stunning. You see the main Paris sights but Allen also takes you to non descript places off the beaten path, which I love, and let’s you feel more like you’re with Gil, wandering the streets and seeing the subtle beauty others may miss. And I know the “time travel” element is a bit out there, but by the time Allen wraps it up in a little bow, I was already a little bored.

Owen Wilson does a great job in this movie as the California boy idealist Gil. He is really pitch perfect for this role but as the main character with lots of dialogue, wild gesturing and waxing poetic on the 20s, he gets to be a bit much. His idealism does start to make him seem naive, but he really starts to redeem himself after his revelation about his idealism. And Rachel McAdams is perfect yet insanely awful as a character to watch. She is harpy, rude, bitter and biting as his fiance and really, half of the movie I was almost hoping one of them would cheat so they wouldn’t get married. I mean, how these people are in love is truly difficult to believe.

The movie also has a strong supporting cast as Gil’s 1920s idols, including Kathy Bates as Gertrude Stein, Adrian Brody as Dali and Marian Cotillard as Picasso’s mistress and object of Gil’s affection (thank goodness.) But all of these characters and actors are underused, basically as a cameo (as if to say, HEY! We got Adrian Brody and he’s Dali! Why not?), with the exception of a few. And the parade of literary and art masters from this time parade through but outside of a name dropping, the real purpose and impact they have for Gil is lacking.

But the redeeming part of this movie for me (minus the travel porn shots) is the theme Allen leads you to at the movie’s “climax,” which is, idolizing about another time or place is to help you ignore the trouble in your present and current situation. Once we finally hit that theme, the movie came together for me more and stopped to make me think, rather than just wonder what was going on in the movie.

I know, I feel like I should have liked this more. Maybe I’ll have to rent it again and see if it hits home for me more.

Verdict: If you’re a Woody Allen fan, see it, otherwise, you can pass. See Match Point instead!

Movie: Super 8

Rating: PG-13

Release date: June 10, 2011

Everyday Adventures’ grade: A-

Summary: It’s 1979 (great year!) and four friends are making a horror movie on a Super 8 camera, until they happen to stumble upon a train derailment while shooting one night…and that derailment happens to set off a chain of events around a valuable piece of government property that escapes. You know, no big deal.

My thoughts: The best way to describe this movie is – E.T. meets Cloverfield meets War of the Worlds. Sounds random but considering its the brainchild collaboration of JJ Abrams and Spielberg, it is pretty accurate. And as a huge JJ Abrams fan, I had very high expectations for this. I like Abrams because he is smart at storytelling, direction and getting great, real performances out of non-big name stars (they’re just like us!) I am still a Spielberg fan too but my interest in him has waned a bit since his more recent projects focus more on childhood nostalgia and (at times) overly touchy feely moments that don’t always add to a story. I don’t dislike him, but he just isn’t speaking to me as much right now. So where I could have been lost in a movie centered around the late 1970s and both men’s nostaliga for Super 8 cameras, Abrams appeals to the current generation with action, smart dialogue and direction.

The only reason this got an A- as opposed to A is that one insanely hammy scene near the end just killed the momentum for me, so I had to take a few points off.

And let me say this, holy crap there were some intense scenes. I don’t want to give any spoilers or too much away about the “thing” that escapes from the government but I will say that TC and I both screamed at parts and hid behind our hands because the tension and action was that intense. Abrams has a great way of weaving in action and monsters without being too gorey or graphic and how they are integrated within the real-life actors does seem realistic and not too “green screened.”

Acting wise, the kids are the main stars of the show, sort of like a Goonies bunch, with lots of yelling and insulting each other but deep friendship underneath. The main character, Joe, is perfect as wide eyed kid who evolves from quiet and reserved to a leader in his group. After the recent death of his mother, the result of the train derailment allows his character to grow and evolve, which many of his friends don’t, but that’s not a big deal.

And as a massive “Friday Night Lights” fan, it was great to see my dreamboat Kyle Chandler (aka Coach Taylor) in a leading role too, although we don’t see as much of him as I’d like. But his quiet pain and conflict as Joe’s dad (and recent widower) is very reminiscent of the great and subtle work he did on FNL. Plus, in uniform, RAWR!

I loved Abrams movie Cloverfield and hope that after seeing this similar monster movie, more people will check it out.

Verdict: Go see it in theaters. Like Cloverfield, you will lose a lot when it’s on TV, but the story and action itself is totally worth it.

What did you see this weekend?

Movie: Something Borrowed

Rating: PG-13

Release date: May 6, 2011

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B

Summary: Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Darcy (Kate Hudson) are life-long friends but Darcy is a self-centered, narcissistic b*tch and Rachel is the long-suffering and sacrificing one in the friendship. But Darcy doesn’t know she’s her fiance Dex’s (Colin Egglesfield) sloppy seconds. Snap, he’s in love with Rachel and the two face their long-burning feelings for each other. That can never end well.

My thoughts: There are two words to describe how I felt walking out of this movie: pleasantly surprised. Again, after reading dismal reviews, I was not sure I would even see this in theaters. But a co-worker talked up John Kraskinski’s hotness in it (as Darcy and Rachel’s platonic friend Ethan) so…that’s worth $9, if for nothing else.

And I won’t bore you with paragraphs of John’s hotness or why my uterus and ovaries woke up and said “yeah, he’ll do…nicely,” but he is just as adorable and hot in prepster gear as he was in the movie “It’s Complicated.” His character is more well-developed too, but not by much. But that’s okay because really, his character doesn’t come full circle until the second book, more on that later.

Separate from John, the main people in this movie are Dex, Rachel and Darcy in a torturous, longing stare love triangle, which seems like a no brainer. The “opposites attract” appeal of Dex and Darcy is quickly overshadowed by the total unlikeableness of Darcy (even with a token soft moment) and the obvious attraction between Dex and Rachel. Where that relationship goes is pretty predictable, even with road block plot points like “should Dex call off the wedding?” “Why can’t Rachel just tell him how she feels?” “Why can’t Rachel go after what she wants for once?” The drama and back-and-forth eats up a bit too much of the movie’s 112 minute run time, but compared to the book (a series by Emily Giffin,) it’s cut down A LOT on the whining from Rachel about her betrayal of her “best friend.”

The main issue not really addressed fully (or enough to really give girls something to relate to) is the lingering feeling from Rachel that someone as smoking “staring at the sun” hot as Dex would go for frumpy Rachel. This frumpiness is played up at any chance, but that is core issue. It’s one I’ve dealt with (and I’m sure others) so I wish that was explored more. Looking back, most of the movie is about people pining for each other within this incestuous group of friends but not saying anything.

To be fair, I haven’t read this book in a while so there may be things in the movie I don’t remember from the book, but the addition of a heart-to-heart with Ethan and Rachel was totally unnecessary and reinforced my “pining” comment above. Why filmmakers feel the need to add stuff like that in when it adds no plot value and just eats time, baffles me.

But the moment they did build to was Darcy discovering Rachel and Dex’s affair and the moments leading up to that moment are really intense and kind of uncomfortable. And then when it’s time to unleash her b*tchy, I hate you moment, Darcy kind of falls flat, in that her character is so shrewd and unlikeable that she just lets it go too easily. I expected more.

Something Borrowed is part of a series from Giffin that includes the sequel (told from Darcy’s POV) called Something Blue. That was my favorite of the two books (due to a deeper character arc and development) and not much for it is set up in this movie and that sequel isn’t locked up to be happening, just yet.

BUT, definitely stay after the movie through the credits. Why? Let’s just say, there is a secret scene that you should check out. I’m so glad Liz made us stay through the credits because I would have missed it!

Re-reading this review, I’ve been a bit harsh and nitpicky on a few things related to the movie, but again, I was really pleasantly surprised by it, and after thinking about it more, it’s growing on me too.

It’s not perfect, but if you read the book, chances are that you will enjoy it.

Verdict: Wait for DVD or Netflix, but definitely see it if you read the book (but you can still wait for DVD)

Have you read any of Giffin’s books?

Movie: Bridesmaids

Rating: R

Release date: May 15, 2011

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B+

Summary: Annie’s childhood friend Lillian (Kristin Wiig and Maya Rudolph respectively) is getting married and that sets Annie on a road to shame and disaster as she serves as maid of honor in her friend’s wedding. Add in a crazy wedding party and douchebag (but smoking hot) sex buddy (Jon Hamm) and, well, I think we both know how this could end.

My thoughts: Okay, first off, I’m a little biased about this because the movie “takes place” in Milwaukee and Chicago. Two places I love. Even though everything but the exterior shots was done in California (why movies why??), it was still nice to get a little hometown love, even if it was over-the-clothes kind of love.

Moving on, this movie got a lot of buzz because it’s gross and, well, most gross-out movies don’t involve primarily women (the 2002 Cameron Diaz movie The Sweetest Thing tried, and failed), but with Judd Apatow producing, it has to be good right?

Well, the movie is gross, in that several scenes made me cover my eyes from grossness but that’s not really the heart of the movie or why I found it so entertaining. It was the awesome cast in it.

Kristin Wiig, who is pretty much great in everything, kills this movie as Annie, the only single girl in the wedding party who is personally dealing with the free fall of her personal and professional life. Her bakery closed, her British roommates are awful, she has zero money, sleeping with a douchebag (love you Jon Hamm!) and she is the last one of her friends (and the only bridesmaid) still single. You can see on her face the frustration, bitterness and anger she holds inside and Lillian’s wedding is the catalyst. All of her resentment and insecurity as her friends move on and she stays still comes out. And the scene when it does is really…biting. As a single girl myself with mostly married friends, I have been in Annie’s shoes and when the cooing, giggling and feelings of being left out explode, I related to her words and feelings more than I care to admit.

The other scene stealers for me were: Wendi McLendon-Covey and Melissa McCarthy. They are hilarious and outlandish as Lillian’s additional bridesmaids and really, every scene they were in, they made me laugh and wish we got to see them more. The final scene with Melissa McCarthy too made me laugh out loud, and hide because it was gross and hilarious at the same time. Seriously, she’s so funny in this movie.

I also really liked Chris O’Dowd, who played Annie’s non-douchy love interest. He’s an honest, sweet guy that Annie isn’t ready for but their chemistry is electric and their scenes together were really funny (I’ve never met a Milwaukee cop who is that forgiving!)

There were a few parts in the movie that dragged for me but it was a solid length (124 minutes) and was a good mix of gross, funny and sweet.

Another scene in the movie gave me some GREAT ideas of what to do (and not do) on my next flight as well. Classic stuff.

Verdict: See it, but not if you’re faint of heart.

Did you see any movies this weekend?

I’ll admit it, I’m always nervous when a movie based on a book (especially one I like) is released. In many cases, it sucks (sometimes, badly) but after seeing a few trailers for Water for Elephants, I was so optimistic. Let’s see if I was right.

Movie: Water for Elephants

Rating: PG-13

Release date: April 22, 2011

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B+

Summary: After an awful family tragedy, Jacob (Rob Pattinson) jumps on a train, only to find it’s a circus and become its traveling vet. During his time on the road, he meets the circus’ main attraction, Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), and clashes with her business-savvy but psychotic husband (Christoph Waltz). Sounds like a nice little Saturday!

My thoughts: I was very pleasantly surprised by this movie. It didn’t suck but it wasn’t perfect. And I REALLY loved the book, so that praise is pretty good for me when it comes to movie adaptations :)

What I liked: The movie was visually beautiful. Rich in color, gorgeous views and excellent costumes. I wanted all of Reese’s clothes and her overall look was just flawless. I wasn’t a huge fan of her casting (I thought she was bit old for the character) but she had the “look” of Marlena that I envisioned. And shockingly, Rob wasn’t bad either! Even though he looked a little lost throughout the movie, he was a pretty good embodiment of Jacob in his youth and was strong without being cheesy. Plus, I’ve never been an Edward Cullen fan (TEAM JACOB!) but his scruffy look was HOT. Damnnnnnn.

Christoph Waltz was also really strong, but his character was a vanilla version of his Inglorious Bastards character, so it wasn’t a huge stretch, but he was entertaining to watch.

The real shining part for me was Hal Holbrook who we meet at the beginning of the movie. I won’t give anything away but his limited screen time was just, wow. The pain, anguish and life he brought was just amazing and definitely made this dead-inside girl cry at the end. I wish he was in it more.

Also, a lot of things were missing from the book, but I don’t think they were really missed. It was related to Hal’s character and I didn’t mind it being omitted.

What I didn’t like: To be honest, the whole Jacob/Marlena dynamic didn’t totally work for me. The chemistry was a little lacking, but I think it’s because I felt it was a bit rushed. Of course, the book has more time to explore and build to this but I didn’t feel a spark. And Reese’s “I love you,” felt a bit flat.

To be honest, I need to re-read the book because I think there are a few other points I’m missing but overall, I thought it was a good interpretation of the book, despite the shortcomings.

Verdict: If you read the book, definitely see it. And if not, see it too!

What about you? Did you see it and like it? How did you think it compared to the book?

Movie: Jane Eyre

Rating: PG-13

Release date: March 11, 2011

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B+

Summary: Cast out from her extended family and the girls home, Jane Eyre (Mia Wasikowska) takes a governess post with Mr. Rochester (Michael Fassbender) and finds her cold heart warmed for the first time ever.

My thoughts: This movie does NOT make me want to live on the English Heath or in 18th-Century England where it’s cold, remote and just…not very attractive. I will take my couch, central heat and standard plumbing. I mean, seriously, if that makes me high maintenance, I will take it.

But despite that, I was really pleasantly surprised by this movie. I liked it a lot. It’s dark, gothic and a little creepy at parts, almost like a haunted theme, but it really works. Wasikowska continues to do really strong work (see Alice in Wonderland and The Kids Are All Right) and she just kills it as Jane. She’s cold and withdrawn but you can see the emotion, fear and anger hidden beneath the surface. Her face is very expressive (which it needs to be) and she just knocks it out of the park. Judi Dench as Mr. Rochester’s house warden is also great, bubbly and the optimist, welcoming Jane to the house. The two work well together and sadly, we don’t see them together enough.

The real love story is with Jane and Mr. Rochester and while it is poignant and sweet (god I LOVE Victorian love stories), it seems a bit rushed. I know you have to suspend some level of disbelief in these romances but this did seem more like a stretch. But it works, the passion between them and the animated Rochester compared to the repressed Jane is really sweet. And the standard “we’re falling in love sequence” between the two is great.

For a little bit, I thought I was watching an Aronofsky movie because no one was happy and I feared it wouldn’t end happily but fortunately, it all came around. Thank god.

Verdict: Worth a day show in the theater or Netflix/Redbox, if you’re a Victorian movie fan, GO SEE IT!

Movie: The Adjustment Bureau

Rating: PG-13

Release date: March 4, 2011

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B

Summary: On the worst night of David Norris’ (Matt Damon) career, he meets a charming dancer named Elise (Emily Blunt), who sets off a chain reaction in his life. Running in to Elise again has thrown David off his “path” and the men of the Adjustment Bureau are going to get that back on track. Best not f*ck with them and their notebooks.

My thoughts: Oh man I really wanted to like this. And overall, I did, but this also falls in the category of great trailer, good movie. The main theme of the movie was said to be personal choice versus social will but really, I felt it was more about fate. The kind of fate that you feel when you meet your soulmate, find what you are ultimately meant for, only to find out it might not be your real destiny. That I find to be more compelling.

Damon and Blunt have amazing chemistry. They flirt, long and swoon around one another and that feels genuine, even if their story gets a little contrived within the Adjustment Bureau plan for them respectively. Honestly, it’s a little tough to really summarize this movie because it’s a little out there and a lot of pieces to explain.

Verdict: See it but definitely a matinee or Netflix/Redbox

What did you think?

1. Is The Lincoln Lawyer going to be just like Primal Fear (1996, starring Richard Gere and Edward Norton – great movie, rent it!)
2. Can I envision Matthew McConaughey in a serious movie, where he wears a full shirt?

Fortunately these were answered by the end of the movie. Let’s take a closer look.

Movie: The Lincoln Lawyer

Rating: R

Release date: March 18, 2011

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B

Summary: Mick Heller (Matthew McConaughey) is a “street lawyer” (I don’t know what actually falls under the description) who works from the backseat of his Lincoln, trolling around town helping the morally questionable. Bad a**. He’s a hot shot until he takes Louis Roulet’s case (a sexy Ryan Phillippe) and things aren’t quite what they seem. I always knew Ryan Phillippe’s baby face would be trouble.

My thoughts: The main thing I learned from this movie: I need friends that are in a biker gang (more on that later.)

The Lincoln Lawyer is a really good trailer that becomes a pretty good movie. I compared this a lot to Primal Fear because it had the same setup: hot shot lawyer who is given a reality check by some angelic face kid through several twists and turns. But that’s pretty much where it ends. Primal Fear was a true shocker that kept peeling away layers of the story like an onion. The Lincoln Lawyer tries to do that but stumbles along due to a large, mostly A/B-List supporting cast who has to be stuffed in the movie for face time.

Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe and William H. Macy are great but we don’t seen enough of them because we have to make room for Michael Pena, John Leguizamo, Frances Fisher and Josh Lucas (still hot.) Honestly, we don’t get to see enough of any of these people, the only reason we do is because of Matthew McConaughey, who weaves them all together. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but McConaughey isn’t awful in this movie. It’s nice to see him refer back to his “A Time To Kill” role years ago, when he was a breakout star and wasn’t buried in bad rom-com movies (cough, Fools Gold, cough.) There are times when he refers back to chiches but it’s not awful. And Phillippe continues to do strong work in a supporting role. He does really well in an ensemble cast and can pull off a really evil, scary look very well. Gives me the creeps (which it should!)

There are a lot of plot twists and turns in this story, and sadly, I think there about 1-3 too many. There were several times I thought the movie was over, only to find out it wasn’t, and then the scenario was repeated. I’m more of a quality over quantity person but that’s just me. I also didn’t find the “resolution” very satisfying but I guess it made sense, biker group inclusion and all.

Verdict: Pretty good, daytime showing or Netflix/Redbox recommended.

Have you seen the movie? If so, what did you think?

And today I’m talking eye shadow. A few weeks ago a Revlon rep contacted me about trying out some of its new CustomEyes samples. I said “hells yes!” I love wearing eye makeup, especially mascara and I’ve been looking for new spring colors so I thought I’d give this a try. Plus, it’s a full eye palette, which makes it easier to get a cohesive look and not break the bank buying multiple colors.

So a few days later, a package arrived with four samples to try: Sexy Smokey (rawr), Sweet Innocence, Metallic Chic and Naturally Glamorous. I immediately went for the smokey eye because a) I’ve never done one before and b) it’s completely different than the colors I wear now.

Let’s take a closer look.

Revlon CustomEyes Shadow and Liner

How much it costs: $8.99

Where you can buy it: Revlon.com

What I like about it: First, I am a huge fan of the palette colors. As I mentioned above, it’s a great way to get an entire look for a solid price and all of the colors compliment each other so you don’t have to mix and match separately. I use several palette beauty products and it works great on my skin. Using the eyeshadow palette was easy and the colors spread really well, even with the foam tip applicator that comes with each set. I’m more of a brush application girl but this is perfect for on the go. And the variety of colors allows you to pick easy daytime/evening looks within palette. For example, you can go with a soft cream on the brow and pink on the lid and then at night add the grays and deeper colors in the crease. I am a girl who likes options and this has it.

What I don’t like about it: To be fair, I can be really daft at applying makeup, especially when I’m not used to it so you may take this with a grain of salt. I had a little trouble following the diagram of what colors to put where on the eye and which ones were the correct numbers. Of course, after more staring at the diagram, I realized where I went wrong. So clearly, more practice is needed. But for those who are more eyeshadow savvy, this won’t be an issue ;)

Final verdict: Check them out and I recommend giving them a try if you’re looking to mix up your eyeshadow palette.

What about you? What eyeshadow do you love?

Disclaimer: Revlon’s agency, M80, provided me with the CustomEyes samples at no charge. All opinions within this review are my own.

Movie: Cedar Rapids

Rating: R

Release date: February 11, 2011

Everyday Adventures’ grade: C+

Summary: Tim Lippe (Ed Helms) proudly lives in Brown Valley, WI (woo Wisconsin!) selling insurance. But Tim’s not really a go-getter. In fact, sheltered and socially awkward would best describe him. But now, he’s off to an insurance salesmen conference in the bustling mecca of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where shenanigans ensue.

My thoughts: It wasn’t bad, but I  really thought this was going to be better. Being from the Midwest and having spent time in smaller town, I could find some of the nuances funny. The aw-shucks Tim character, naive and sheltered by living in a small town his entire life. In fact, he still lives in his childhood home and likely bed. It’s somewhat endearing to see that but also, it’s indirectly making fun of him for laughs. That, I didn’t enjoy.

The real action starts when Tim arrives in Cedar Rapids and befriends other restrained yet wild insurance agents (John C. Reilly, Anne Heche and Isiah Whitlock Jr) who help bring Tim out of his shell and support him as he learns the real consequences of his actions. Of this group, John C. Reilly is the real stand-out. His character is outlandish but he plays it really well, even if it gets a little annoying after a while. Ed Helms plays a more reserved version of his Hangover character, Stu, but it works on him.

I always love seeing Arrested Development cast in movies too and Alia Shawkat (Maebe) makes an appearance, which leads the story on a completely awry turn. Really, her character wasn’t necessary, but at that point, it brought the story back around.

I think Ed Helms will continue to have a strong movie career during and after The Office and hopefully as he grows, he will show a little more range. But the man can still deliver.

Verdict: Netflix it. No need to run and see it in theaters.

What were your thoughts?

Movie: No Strings Attached

Rating: R

Release date: January 21, 2011

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B+

Summary: Pretty boy Adam (Ashton Kutcher) and good girl Emma (Natalie Portman) meet and remeet over several years until on the final meeting, they decide to get in to a “sex friends” relationship. Healthy? Maybe. Fun? You bet! But they will only be sex buddies until one person falls for another. Inevitable? Maybe.

My thoughts: I really thought I would hate this movie, but I didn’t. Trust me, I was just as surprised as you may be. I think I thought that I would hate it because a) Ashton plays nothing but the same character, “aw shucks” baby-faced guy who is like a lost puppy in love and 2) because the last time I saw Natalie Portman, she was in several compromising positions in Black Swan. But, what I did like is that the movie’s contemporary and puts Ashton is the “girl” mindframe with relationships while Natalie is the one running from commitment.

And it works because of Ashton and Natalie. Natalie isn’t the type to be the swoony, “love me” kind of girl and Ashton isn’t the man whore kind of guy. He tried that in the direct-to-DVD movie Spread and it didn’t work. But their chemistry does and the banter between them does too.

There are a lot of funny parts of this movie that are crude without being gross-out humor. And a strong supporting cast (Ludacris, Jake Johnson, Greta Gerwig and Mindy Kaling) are great too. They add to the story without trying to take it over. And the twists that Adam and Emma encounter are a little expected but not hokey.

Kevin Kline and Cary Elwes make nice small role/cameo appearances but Elwes barely spoke so maybe in a director’s cut, we’ll see more. To be honest, he character was wasted on screen.

I’ll be curious to see how this compares to the upcoming Friends With Benefits movie with Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake, which has a similar premise. Apparently sex buddies are a new spring trend?

Verdict: See it or Netflix it. There are some funny parts here that younger people will get. The older crowd in our showing didn’t find parts as funny as TC and me.

Movie: Blue Valentine

Rating: R

Release date: December 29, 2010

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B

Summary: Cindy and Dean (Michelle Williams, Ryan “Hey Girl” Gosling) are in a marriage rut. But this time, the marriage’s survival is looking bleak. So while we get to watch their marriage fall apart, we also get to bounce back and see how they met and fell in love.

My thoughts: This was definitely a realistic portrayal of a couple in love and then, sadly out of love. And the out-of-love scenes are pretty raw and real. And there were MULTIPLE scenes (none sexual in nature) that were tough to watch. The movie also received a lot of buzz because the MPAA board originally gave this an NC-17 rating. Let me tell you, that is BS. Yes, there are graphic sex scenes but nothing lewd or tawdry in nature. In fact, the scene the news kept referring to was pretty tame in my mind. I could think of several other movies that went over the line more than this. Snap.

Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams were both amazing. Totally immersed and fearless in their characters and portrayals of Cindy and Dean as idealistic 20sbs and embittered 30sbs. Of the two, Ryan Gosling was the most captivating to watch. The guy is a) hot (especially in a black leather jacket) and b) a mere image of a hot younger self as Dean. This is a guy who goes from good looking to, well not-so-good looking and he is still just as entertaining to watch. Williams also continues to master the silent suffering, tortured female characters and she’s great at it. You connect with her and the pain her character is in.

In the backstory, there are a few twists I didn’t see coming so if you feel like you’re siding with one character in the beginning, when Dean and Cindy’s marriage is falling apart, you may switch teams. But my only gripe about this is that we don’t see how the marriage slowly fell apart over time and the fate of a few small characters is left unanswered too.

The most emotional scene for me to watch was at their wedding. It broke my heart because at this point, we’ve seen their marriage completely fall apart and then see them so happy and in love with one another that is sad because you know where they’ll end up. But how real their love was in that scene was amazing.

On the movie poster, it says that this is a “love story.” And after seeing it, I really thought about if that was true. To me, love stories are the rom com movies or classics of undying love that ends in happily ever after. But after seeing this and 500 Days of Summer, I’m beginning to see that a love story doesn’t always end happily. Sometimes, it just ends and the characters don’t forget about that love, but know it makes them worse together than better. That’s the situation here.

Both Gosling and Williams deserve their Golden Globe nominations and I hope they get Oscar nods too. This is a seriously intense movie, so don’t go thinking it will end happily or be a spirit booster, but it is still good.

Verdict: See it but go to a day matinee in case you don’t like it, or stay with Netflix.

Has anyone else seen this? What did you think?

Movie: True Grit

Rating: PG-13

Release date: December 22, 2010

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B+

Summary: Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) has a bee in her bonnet and a score to settle with a fugitive (Josh Brolin) that killed her father. Sounds fair enough. But to bring justice, she needs the help of a cranky lawman (Jeff Bridges) and Texas Ranger (Matt Damon).

My thoughts: I can say it, I liked this movie more than I thought I would, but there are points where it drags. I was also shocked that this was rated PG-13 given the Coen brothers previous movies, but don’t worry, there is still violence. It just not as…graphic. Well that’s a lie, there are some parts with some exaggerated violence but it’s not too bad.

The real star in this movie is Hailee Steinfeld. That girl is amazing in this movie, especially going up against Matt Damon (who is still cute with a mustache) and Jeff Bridges. She is charismatic and a real scene stealer in this as the tough Mattie who needs vengeance but gets in over her head. Bridges and Damon have great chemistry and banter too, but there is one part with Matt Damon’s tongue that made me cower up in a ball like a small child. Shudder.

The scenery and staging was also well done but there was some visibly green-screened scenes that turned me off a little bit.

If you’re a Coen brothers fan, you’ll know that there is A LOT of talking in this movie but the banter is still witty and doesn’t weigh this down too heavily. But for a near two hour movie, you can definitely feel that time creeping by in parts. I think it could have been paired down and still been enjoyable. But I was pleasantly surprised by this storytelling and how much heart it ended up having.

Verdict: Worthwhile to see in theaters or Netflix

What about you? Are you a Coen brothers fan?

Movie: 127 Hours

Rating: R

Release date: November 5, 2010

Everyday Adventures’ grade: A-

Summary: Several years ago, adventurer Aron Ralston took off for a weekend hike and ran into a little…medical emergency. Days later, he escaped from the crevice he was stuck in (sans one arm.) This chronicles his journey during those days stuck, thanks to a boulder, and show how he barely survived.

My thoughts: I’ll be honest, I don’t remember hearing about Aron Ralston about six or seven years ago when this incident took place. It’s sad to say, but these stories all blend together because the TODAY Show covers everything and I can’t always tell them apart. I’m not even a huge James Franco fan, even though I loved his work in Milk but didn’t in Pineapple Express. So this movie had a few things working against it when I went in, but there was one big pro: Danny Boyle.

I LOVE Danny Boyle’s visual storytelling. Slumdog Millionaire was a beautifully told, visual story, with bold use of color and flashback images to tell a story. And he does a great job again here because it fits so well with the story of Aron’s slow descent into paranoia and starvation and dehydration. And Franco does a really great job in here because he is really the main character and actor in the film and he just knocks it out of the park.

So yeah let’s talk quickly about the whole “cutting off the arm thing” because yes, it a key part of the story. No, it’s not grotesque or gorey like veins and blood all over but yeah there are parts that are difficult to watch. But the only part that is really making it feel more gorey than it is, is thanks to music. Much like in Jaws, the music makes scenes harder to watch than they actually are. But I did learn a valuable tip on how to make the whole arm cutting off thing easier if I ever need to: break the arm. Genius. Also, I found the “story” of how Aron came to that realization that cutting off his arm was necessary really interesting, it wasn’t what I expected. But James Franco could be slowly becoming one of my favorite actors because he was really solid here.

Verdict: See it, but don’t be afraid to cover your eyes in this one too. There are parts where you need to look away.

But since Bridget Jones Diary, I’ve had a massive crush on Colin Firth and see just about any movie he’s in, including his recent and most buzzed about one, The King’s Speech.

Movie: The King’s Speech

Rating: R

Release date: December 17, 2010

Everyday Adventures’ grade: A

Summary: Prince Albert aka Bertie (Colin Firth) has daddy and brother (Guy Pearce) issues and a speech impediment that leaves him with an awful stammer. Goodness. With his father’s health failing, his brother in a scandalous relationship and Hilter’s power rising in Europe, Bertie seeks the help of an odd speech therapist to help him deal with his speech issues.

My thoughts: Overall, I really liked this movie. Sometimes, with British movies, I don’t really get the humor or understand all the comments, jokes, etc. because, well I don’t live in Britain, but I did my pre-movie reading on Wikipedia and felt really comfortable going in. And to no surprise, Colin Firth did an amazing job, just like he does in every other movie he’s in (minus What A Girl Wants…I don’t judge on that.)

Firth is really compelling to watch, especially his frustration with this stammer and the agony, embarrassment he feels when it inevitably takes over during public speaking. Helena Bonham Carter is also amazing as his wife, who loves her husband so much and tries to comfort, support and look out for him, knowing that his public speaking role will only increase and therefore his stammer will too without help. That’s where Geoffrey Rush comes in as Lionel and the scenes with him and Firth are really strong because of the juxtaposition of their social rank. They could not be more different, yet there are things that bind them together.

The final scenes in the movie were very emotional and empowering given Europe’s then descent into World War II and both Rush and Firth really shine there. Made me even tear up a bit.

Verdict: Go see it but if you’re on the fence, see it during the day. The Fighter is a better “night movie” to help you feel like you got your money’s worth

Movie: Black Swan

Rating: R

Release date: December 3, 2010

Everyday Adventures’ grade: A-

Summary: Nina is a prima ballerina in New York but that girl has some serious psychological issues, which come to a head as she prepares for the remake of Swan Lake. So who is out to get her (if anyone), the director (Vincent Cassel) or ballerina rival (Mila Kunis?)

My thoughts: Two words really describe this movie – holy sh*t.

I can’t say I understood everything that happened at the end, but it was one of those movies you could not stop watching. The movie was filmed by Aronofsky on hand-held cameras so it’s a little jumpy (not as bad as Blair Witch) but you adjust quickly and honestly, the story is so compelling that you can’t worry about that because too much is going on.

Rodarte made the ballerina costumes, which were to die for. Just simply amazing and beautifully made. But moving away from fashion, let’s get to the performances! Natalie Portman should win something for her role. She was the perfect mix of vulnerable, repressed, sexually unsure of herself and passive. But when that b*tches claws come out, watch out. Her performance as a dancer and as Nina was just perfect and stunning. Mila Kunis, I cannot even believe she was ever on That 70s Show. She is really intriguing here too, as someone who might be trying to be Nina’s friend while unseating her at the same time.

The paranoia gets to be a little much at parts (seriously, you start to think you’re paranoid) but the twists and reveals keep coming and you cannot miss a moment. Barbara Hershey and Winona Ryder make great appearances too, it was nice to see them both in strong roles.

But I won’t lie, there are some really disturbing and mind bending twists and at the end, I don’t think I understood everything. I don’t know if I’ll see it again, but I definitely am glad I saw it. It was INTENSE.

Verdict: Go see it but don’t be ashamed if you cover your eyes. Seriously, some stuff was tough to watch.

First up on my list is a visit to hottie-land with Marh Wahlberg in The Fighter.

Movie: The Fighter

Rating: R

Release date: December 10, 2010

Everyday Adventures’ grade: A

Summary: Dicky Ward (Christian Bale) is the pride of Lowell, Mass., but he’s also a junkie and holding back his brother Micky (Mark Wahlberg) from being the champion Dicky wasn’t. And Micky is struggling with how to become a champion with his brother and mother/manager (Melissa Leo) and seven sisters holding him back. Damn, that’s a lot of estrogen.

My thoughts: I really, really liked this movie. For the first time in a while, a movie lived up to the hype! This is easily one of my top favorite movies of 2010. I wasn’t a huge fan of David O. Russell’s I Heart Huckabees (also staring Mark Walhberg) but I really enjoyed this. The direction, cinematography and acting is all really spot on.

On a scale of 1-10 in level of hotness, Mark Wahlberg gets an 11. He is the ghost chili of hotness in this movie. And much like his other characters, he’s a little dopey and bashful, but really fits the bill of Mickey here. Physically, he can fight and really looks like he can fight. The fighting scenes are really strong and amazing to watch. And seeing the real Dicky and Micky at the end of the movie, really brings home the strong work from both Wahlberg and Christian Bale.

That’s right, as good as Mark Wahlberg is in this, he’s easily overshadowed by two other people in this movie: Christian Bale and Melissa Leo. Both are SO STRONG in this, just amazing to watch them really steal every scene they are in. Bale plays the junkie, wannabe forever hero so well. He’s living in the past (his pre-junkie claim to fame is that he knocked out Sugar Ray Leonard) and hanging on his fame while ultimately holding his brother back.

Melissa Leo is absolutely awful as Micky and Dicky’s mother, but her performance is amazing as a woman wanting to help her boys but ultimately focusing on her favorite child: Dicky. She’s crazy and high strung and just really impressed me here.

Amy Adams also does good work as Micky’s girlfriend but her role is a little small in this and for the firecracker her character is, I wanted to see more. Still love her though!

Also, be on the watchout for Kathy O’Brien, aka Conan’s sister. She’s one of the Ward sisters and you cannot miss her. Just look for someone who is the female (shorter) version of Conan and you’ll find her.

Verdict: Go see it! But I would rethink it if you’re a little bashful on bad language