Three Good Ones

I loved The Lucky Ones. Maybe it was the characters. Maybe it was the dialogue. Maybe it's the huge girl crush I have on Rachel McAdams (who was amazing in this role). At any rate, it was all working. The Lucky Ones is a film I've been waiting to see for months. And even with my high expectations, I was not let down. Many people may not have even heard of this film. It's currently in a semi-limited release, but I really encourage people to seek it out. It tells the story of three army vets on leave (well, two on leave, one going home for good) who meet and end up driving across the country together after an airport mishap. It's unfair to lump this film in with all of the other disappointing war movies that have been released in the last year or so. This film isn't about the war. It's about the people. The three characters really could have been anyone. And on that level I think everyone can see a bit of themselves in each character. I know I could. Tim Robbins' subtle sorrow, Michael Pena's comic cynicism and McAdams' unwavering optimism come together and create an environment that I thoroughly enjoyed being in. The Lucky Ones is one of my favorite films of the year.

Note to Hollywood studio bosses: we like adult films with adult actors about adult things. Nights in Rodanthe was surprisingly quite enjoyable. Given the September release date I was a little apprehensive about Rodanthe, but it turns out I didn't really need to be. Diane Lane and Richard Gere reunite and find each other at a North Carolina inn, Lane running it for a friend, and Gere visiting the husband of a previous patient. Like previous films in this blog, Rodanthe is something that could have turned into complete mush if not for the writer and director. And Lane and Gere, of course. Oddly enough I felt as though the film lost a little bit of momentum and charm after the characters took their relationship to the next level; and the whole part when they actually do take that next step seemed kind of silly and over the top. But those are only a few minor complaints in an otherwise high quality drama. One more note: watching Diane Lane dance and do shots is way more fun than watching Seth Rogen smoke pot.

Shia is on fiah! Continuing his global box office domination Shia LaBeouf has again treated us to an unexpectedly solid thriller. He's 22. Eagle Eye is a sharp and smart thriller in the spirit of Enemy of the State (a great film). LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan star as normal joes whose lives are turned upside down when they are unwittingly "activated" and thrown into a world of cyber and domestic terrorism. There's quite a bit of action here to keep you pinned to your seat - the airport baggage chase sequence was particularly fun. LaBeouf and Monaghan are great and work really well together. Like I said before, solid thriller.