"Do you have a thing for my sister?"

Your Sister's Sister: starring Emily Blunt, Mark Duplass, and Rosemarie DeWitt.

The film begins with a memorial for Tom. Iris (Emily Blunt) is Tom's former girlfriend. Jack (Mark Duplass) is Tom's brother and Iris' best friend. Jack has fallen apart since the death of his brother.  In an effort to help him redirect his course in life, Iris offers Jack the use of her father's cabin.  Unbeknownst to Iris and Jack, Iris' sister, Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt) is also occupying the cabin. Jack suprises Hannah who is recovering from a break up from a seven year relationship.

The film is a distorted love triangle.  Iris is in love with Jack, but hasn't told him. Jack has a thing for Iris but feels his life is directionless and he cannot rope someone into his life. Hannah is a lesbian who wants a child desparately.  Jack and Hannah share a bottle of tequila and end up having the least glamorous sex in the world.  The next morning as a surprise Iris shows up at the cabin to keep Jack company and finds her sister present.  The next few days unfold with secrets being kept and revealed, childish pokes and adult pain.

I wanted to like this film. I really like Rosemarie DeWitt, check her out in the United States of Tara. But this film felt like an inde film. It dragged and dropped in places. It had an interesting idea but did not end well. The trailer caught most of the good moments in it. This is not worth seeing on the big screen or renting. Maybe worth a sit through if you catch it on tv. 

Brave - Emma Thompson, Kelly MacDonald, Billy Connolly

Merida is the daughter of a clan chief.  She is the oldest of four children. She has triplet brothers. Her mother is perpetually trying to instill in her the rules of being a lady. Her mother is in fact grooming her to take over as wife of the next clan chief. Her father is loud, a hunter, and slightly uncouth. Merida is rebellious teenager. She hunts, rides her horse, and has unruly hair.

This film focuses primarily on the relationship between Merida and her mother.  Merida attempts to avert what she sees as a terrible fate: marriage. Her wish is distorted and she ends up not only bonding with her mother but seeing her mother in a new light.

I really enjoy Pixar films. I like the Scottish tones, the red hair and the female protagonist. I also really enjoy family relationships and this one focuses on a mother and daughter. They fight the way parents and children do. For once, a film where the mother is still alive. Not only that she's trying to force her daughter to grow up and learn responsibility!

Watch this film, it's fun, predictable and a delight. The voices are great and while not exactly treading new ground it is still an enjoyable film. See it!

"I love you but you have no idea what you're talking about."

Moonrise Kingdom - Frances McDormand, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Kara Hayward, Jared Gilman, Jason Schwartzman, Tilda Swinton. Directed by Wes Anderson.

Sam (Jared Gilman) and Suzy (Kara Hayward) are two odd ball 12 year olds.  Sam is an orphan attending a scout camp on the island of New Penzance.  Suzy is the oldest of three children who resides on the island.  The two are at odds with those who surround them.  The two concoct a plan to steal away together.

Sam is pursued by his scout master and troop.  Suzy is pursued by her estranged parents and the island's police officer.  While the two kids are on the lam, Sam's adopted parents determine that he is too much trouble and tell his scout master that he is no longer welcome at home. 

Also in the offing is an imminent storm.

I enjoyed this film. I really like Wes Anderson - he has a distinct style. This film is touching and funny. I normally am not a fan of child actors and yet these two leads were great.  The pace was great and the end was delightful.  This is a perfect summer movie.You likely can't watch this in the theater any more but I think it is worth the rent. Check it out.

It's been a long time...

It seems as though it has been ages since I wrote in this lovely blog.
Again, I have not lost my love of film, just time!
I am going to begin again.

Upcoming reviews of: The Omen, Stick It, Brave, Moonrise Kingdom and Your Sister's Sister.

Quick review: The Omen (the original) - delightful if  a bit dated; Stick It - worth a rent if you enjoyed Bring It On and actually watched any of the subsequent films; Brave - loved it, but I'm a sucker for Pixar; Moonrise Kingdom - lovely coming of age odd kid out love story - delightful; and Your Sister's Sister - sadly had potential but ended bumpy.

Full reviews coming soon!