Image: Photo © Anna “bcmom.” Modified by Céline Stegmüller. Source – CC License
Author: Céline Stegmüller
SWEET’N’SOUR POPCORN — honest movie reviews, like you’ve never seen them before.
Begin Again (John Carney, 2013): This one is for the music lovers, those who want to be the insider and see how the music business works, how people make songs, how singers live and so on. Do you like Maroon 5? Even better. The film stars Adam Levine, a young and talented singer—duh, paired to the sweet and pretty Keira Knightley; obviously featuring love troubles and family drama, this romantic comedy will wrap you tight with all its good music and make you want to leave university to become an independent singer-songwriter.
Happythankyoumoreplease (Josh Radnor, 2010): in case you’re still looking for a philosophy to your life, here it is. “The key to your life is gratitude. Say thank you, all the time… and after that, say more please. That with gratitude the universe is eternally abundant.” Love, hope, friendship, courage and passion mingle to one another in this sparkling and lovely comedy starring Zoe Kazan, Kate Mara and Josh Radnor (yes, the overly romantic and awkward Ted Mosby). A must see, one of those movies that leave you wondering about your life while the cast names and credits keep on rolling.
Saving Mr. Banks (John Lee Hancock, 2013): Disney fan anyone? Does the name Mary Poppins make you smile? This movie, based on a true story, recreates the making of the famous blockbuster, with Tom Hanks impersonating Walt Disney, and Emma Thompson as the author of the children’s book Mr. Disney wants to turn into a movie. Funny and at times quite sad, yet definitely worth watching, if not just for the witty British humor the novelist throws at the poor crew that is working with her.
Still Mine (Michael McGowan, 2012): Based on the real life of Craig Morrison, this movie could’ve easily been a Nicholas Sparks’s adaptation. An elderly couple is struggling to stay together despite financial problems, Alzheimer’s disease and the law. It’s easy to talk about young love, but what about the love that struggled a whole life and is still burning even at 80 years old? Beautifully sad and powerful, the desolate Canadian landscape is the perfect setting for this story of endurance, hope and all kinds of love.
Chef (Jon Favreau, 2014): A movie that shows the power of food, featuring a super cool food truck on a journey from Miami to LA and Scarlett Johansson as a sexy sommelier. It all starts with a bad critic review: Carl, chef de cuisine and absent dad, wants his revenge, and boy, get ready for it. Sandwiches have never looked so yummy, so be sure to watch this when your tummy is full or be ready to eat all you can find in your house (still unsatisfied because all you have is crap compared to what you see on screen).
The Giver (Phillip Noyce, 2014): This is a movie that will make you realize how weird and stupid we must look like if seen from “the outside”: wars, murders, hate and violence don’t exist in the overly-controlled world this story is set in. But so are emotions, feelings and colors. The Giver makes you for a moment want to leave our planet, but then you realize you actually do want to come back. Obviously because of love, but also to change things. So have a look. It’s good to see.
The Best Offer (Giuseppe Tornatore, 2013): Do you think you know everything? Do you think you know better? Wait for it. Mr. Oldman (Geoffrey Rush) is a very famous and predictably lonely director of a prestigious auction house, who through the guidance of a young friend (Jim Sturgess) will discover the perks and risks of love. Brilliant movie, very fine acting, and an amazing soundtrack by Ennio Morricone: what else.