The Informant! (2009)

I love dark comedies and this movie makes me adore Matt Damon. I can not emphasize enough how incredible Damon's performance is in this movie. He plays Mark Whitacre, a scientist and VP at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), a large agri-business, who becomes an FBI information. He confesses to FBI Agent Brian Shepard (Scott Bakula - yes, Scott Bakula a.k.a. Quantum Leap) that ADM is involved in an international price fixing scam. Whitacre works with the FBI for years, taping conversations, revealing documents and all the while trying to maintain his own innocence, which turns out to be very difficult. Whitacre gets caught up in a web of ridiculous lies and plagiarisms that he, or the audience, can't tell which way is up.

While Steven Soderbergh directs a masterful mystery thriller and Scott Burns' screenplay establishes some of the most brilliant and funny dialogue I've heard in a long time, this movie belongs to Matt Damon. Playing the best and most challenging role of his entire career, Damon is on point with every desperate explanation, with every innocent gaze, with that psychotic, confused smile. The Informant! is simply hilarious and fun and full of mystery. It's also based on a true story, which is entirely secondary to the awesomeness of the film within itself. I highly recommend it.



Writing: 9/10
Acting: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Visuals: 9/10

Ponyo (on the Cliff by the Sea) (2008)

So Ponyo is a Japanese animated movie from 2008, but I waited for the English dub version - not that I have an aversion to subtitles or anything. I've seen all of Hayao Miyazaki's brilliantly magical films dubbed in English and the voice acting is always satisfactory to excellent. Ponyo is Miyazaki's retelling of the fairytale The Little Mermaid. A little fish girl, Ponyo (voiced by Noah Cyrus, Miley's little sister) is caught by a little human boy, Sosuke (voiced by Frankie Jonas - yes a Jonas Brother). Sosuke carries Ponyo around in a plastic bucket and becomes very fond of the magical little fish. When Fujimoto (voiced by Liam Neeson), Ponyo's dad, finds out she's on land and friends with a human, he sends waves and fish to fetch little Ponyo. Both Sosuke and Ponyo are devastated to be apart, so Ponyo uses her magic to turn into a human girl and return to Sosuke. Together, Ponyo learns how to be a human and Sosuke learns about magic while always being pursued by Fujimoto. Eventually, like all the best fairytales, everyone finds their place in the world and they live happily ever after.

I've come to the conclusion that it is impossible to be disappointed by a Miyazaki film. While Ponyo is not his best, it still carries the same enchanting innocence and imaginative charm. The story is a masterfully crafted twist on a classic tale and the characters are as quirky and unique as ever (other voice actors in the English dub cast: Cate Blanchet, Tina Fey, Cloris Leachman, Betty White and Lily Tomlin, if that says anything). Visually, Ponyo makes me long for more 2D animation that's so beautifully mastered. I find the hand drawn waves curling and splashing much more breathtaking that the supposedly awe-inspiring computer rendered scenes of movies like Avatar or Disney-Pixar productions.

Writing: 10/10
Acting (voice): 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Visuals: 10/10

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

While watching the Oscars on Sky Movies HD (some British channel thing) one commenter said that his children didn't care for Fantastic Mr. Fox and that he thought when it comes to animated movies, children should enjoy it, or what's the point? He totally neglects the possibility that maybe some animated movies are made for adults. Avatar, in all rights, was primarily animated, yet was enjoyed by adults worldwide. Fantastic Mr. Fox, however, is for the most part a children's movie. Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox is the story of a fox (George Clooney) and his family who rob the local farmers of their poultry and cider. Wes Anderson is the master of subtlety and using empty space exactly where it's needed. At times awkward, the humor in Fantastic Mr. Fox would be difficult for many children to grasp. However, the escapades of Mr. Fox and friends are entertaining enough visually even for an ADD wonder brat. The entire movie is engaging and engrossing, from the low-tech stop motion animation to the bouncy, fun-loving soundtrack.

Writing: 10/10
Acting (voice): 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Visuals: 10/10

Julie & Julia (2009)

Meryl Streep is the greatest actress of our generation. That alone is enough to see Julie & Julia. The premise, however, probably deters even some of her most ardent fans. A movie about cooking? Hardly. Julie & Julia interweaves the story of how Julia Child becomes the most famous American cook and the story of a blogger named Julie (Amy Adams) who, at a time where she's turning 30 feels she's not good at anything, decides to start a blog about completing every recipe in Julia Child's 734-page Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I concede that it doesn't sound all that interesting, but add a dash of romance, drama, and politics, and the story becomes remarkable.

The acting is brilliant on Meryl Streep (surprise, surprise), Amy Adams and Stanly Tucci's part. Playing a public figure with distinct mannerisms and an over the top personality is difficult. Meryl Streep does it effortlessly; she is Julia Child. Even those, like me, who are too young to be familiar with Julia Child's work and television shows know who she is and you'll recognize how dead on Streep's performance is. Amy Adams' Julie is incredibly sincere, somewhat naive, and beautifully diffident. I must admit that the character of Julie was partially the inspiration for starting this very blog. Stanley Tucci is an incredibly likable actor and there is no exception for his role as Julia Child's incredibly loving and sanguine diplomat husband.

I think Julie & Julia is a lovely film in the truest sense of the word. I don't care if you give a shit about cooking or blogging or history, it's well made. The acting and dialogue are consistently interesting. The stories are woven together masterfully. I think if you're looking for a well crafted, moving film, Julie & Julia is worth your time.

There are no explosions in this film.

Writing: 9/10
Acting: 10/10
Plot: 7/10
Visuals: 7/10