If you met yourself, what would you say?

Is it too late to review a movie when it has been out for five months? Never! Especially so when Another Earth's DVD release is this Tuesday (11/29). I like how we still call them DVD releases. Yes, DVD media will be around for some time. As far as I'm concerned, it has one foot in the grave next to VHS. Calling it a DVD/Blu-ray release just seems redundant ... but I digress. I promise I am not only going to keep review sci-fi movies revolving around (pun intended) planets and how we react to them with other things going on at the same time. It is just a sheer coincidence I promise! It just seems as of late, I have been enjoying going through a space kick more so than usual.

Perhaps I will show some bias towards this movie in reviewing it. If you know my taste in movies you may know that I am a dork when it comes to good sci-fi movies. You may also know that I am a stupid sap when it comes to (GOOD) romantic films. When you combine the two, you have what I like to call (perhaps others do as well) a sci-fi-rom; Science Fiction Romance. I have been poked and prodded for loving "love in space" movies. And you know what? It's true. My top three of this genre are The Fountain, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Solaris. Also included in no real order are: Science of Sleep, Vanilla Sky, Logan's Run, What Dreams May Come, Forever Young, Midnight in Paris, Never Let Me Go, The Adjustment Bureau, and Meet Joe Black ... just to name a handful off the top of my head.

I have found a new person who can act, write and is a sci-fi dork. I think I am in love. Her name is Brit Marling. After graduating with a degree in economics from Georgetown University, Brit Marling turned down a job with Goldman Sachs for a career as in Artist. Acting for a couple of years turned uneventful when she was type casted as the cute blonde in horror movies. She learned to write and wrote herself into her own scripts. She worked on two movies at the same time. She worked on one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. They both premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year. They are Sound of My Voice (out next year) and Another Earth. 

Today's Feature: 

When I was doing my annual NY visit to see my friend Matt, among other friends, we planned to go see Another Earth. It had been out for some time and I had not gotten around to checking it out. So I was excited to see it, especially in New York. We had checked the times for the day before and assumed the same times for the following. Well of course the next day it had left theaters. That sucked. Life goes on. Three months later I decided to watch it on a whim. 

Rhoda Williams (Brit Marling), a bright young woman accepted into MIT's astrophysics program, aspires to explore the cosmos. A brilliant composer, John Burroughs (William Mapother – LOST), has just reached the pinnacle of his profession and is about to have a second child with his loving wife. On the eve of the discovery of a duplicate Earth, tragedy strikes and the lives of these strangers become irrevocably intertwined. Estranged from the world and the selves they once knew, the two outsiders begin an unlikely love affair and reawaken to life. But when one is presented with the chance of a lifetime opportunity to travel to the other Earth and embrace an alternative reality, which new life will they choose? -- (C) Fox Searchlight (RT)

Let me start with the bad first. The bad being … umm … there really isn’t anything bad about it. Probably my only complaint about this movie is the camera work. I don’t mind the natural hand cam, no tripod, camera shake. It wasn’t that bad in this movie, but Jesus was the quick zoom-ins (pretty sure that’s not the technical term) distracting and annoying. There were a lot of them. I felt like I was watching an episode of the Office. 

The soundtrack was exceptional. I immediately got it after the film ended. It was scored by Fall on Your Sword. It was the perfect sound for this movie. It had the perfect amount of electronic, space-sounding, airy type of music for this film’s score. There is a Scene where John (Mapother) uses a bow to play an old-fashioned handsaw! Apparently this is actually done and I have never heard of that. It is hands down the best on-screen musical performance, that I can recall, I have seen ever in a film. It really is beautiful. Unfortunately that actual piece is not on the soundtrack. It is by Scott Munson and performed by Natalia ‘Saw Lady’ Paruz. I could link you to a sample of it but I would prefer you listen to it in context of the film while watching it. It is truly an amazing piece.

To be honest, going into this movie and a reason why I didn't see it right away was because it kind of looked like a sleeper. Boy was I wrong. A lot of movies can have a lot of pretty flair and have zero substance (COUGH - Tarsem Singh as of late - COUGH). This film nailed it on the head for me. I did not see the ending coming at all and it kind of made me jump out of my seat … and not in a “I’m scared” kind of way. You’ll see. 

When Another Earth delivered its final blow, I was putty in this film's hands. It satisfied so many different things that a film of this genre should. Being a low budget film, it pulled off a lot. Soundtrack: check. Cinematography: check. Constantly showing beautiful shots of the moon and Earth 2: Check. Acting: Check. Plot and Story: check ... I could go on.

Rhoda (Marling) is plagued and haunted with what she did to John (Mapother). She looses her nerve when she tries to confront him about what she did. She befriends him to try to make his life a little bit better. She wants it to be for him and is scared when she thinks when it also can be for her. Their relationship feeds off each other so in some way they can better than themselves, somehow feel normal again and so that Rhoda can bear her guilt and shame. By her entering in a chance to go to Earth 2, she can just disappear or perhaps she can make things better in some way.

Some complaints of this movie are that it lacks scientific plausibility in a number of ways. They are right, it does. If you are expecting a General to be explaining to the President about the where, why, when and how a planet appeared, then you are going to miss the entire point of this film. Another Earth is about forgiveness, redemption and second chances. 

The science aspect of it all is very much in the background. Throughout the film a scientist, they met while filming, speaks in a narrative about the philosophical implications of Earth 2. An interesting theory is talked about; the broken mirror theory in relation to Earth 2. “If there is any small that variation arises; they look this way, you look that way. Suddenly everything changes and you begin to wonder what else is different. One might say you have an exact mirror image that is suddenly shattered and there is a new reality. Therein lays the opportunity and the mystery. What else? What new? What now?”

It’s fascinating because it asks you a lot of questions that you probably have asked yourself at some point ... I know I have. In the film, Rhoda asks "If you met yourself, what would you say?" Then later on, a narrative expands on that question: “What would we say to ourselves? What would we learn from ourselves? What would we really like to see if we could stand outside ourselves and look at us?”

I was a little disappointed at the time I missed seeing it in New York. I am glad now that I didn't. It was twice as rewarding because I didn't expect it to be this damn good and also because it was an amazing movie that almost fell through the cracks. Mike Cahill, the director and co-writer, perfectly describes this movie as a “minimalist, science fiction, romantic, dramatic thriller”. In its simplest form, Another Earth is a really cool Twilight Zone episode.

Ghostbusters, Mad Men and Godfathers...

A month and a half blows by real quick. It seems I don't have as much time as I thought I did to do a blog. Here I am now, though! It feels like I haven't really done that much in the past month and a half. While putting this post together, I was pleasantly surprised to see that my life isn't as dull as I thought. Thanksgiving is in a couple days. Another Christmas and New Year's are right around the corner. Semester is almost over. One more to go.

Tonight's Features:

I. Things done in a month and a half

II. Movies you should see

III. Melancholia Review - My first attempt at reviewing a movie ... be kind.

I.

As odd as it may seem, this was my first skins game. It was a lot of fun. Doesn't matter who they played. You know how Skins' games go.

Voilà! Haters don't hate but here is the amazing result of my Halloween costume I made mention of in my last post. I had a lot of fun putting this together. I had even a lot more fun struttin' it around Richmond.

This was a lot of (drunk) fun. Did a Virginian wine tour. Considering it was my first, it was a good experience. 

Isn't a great photo?! I love this one! I had the CD of images but I have failed to get them into my possession. ... I will soon. Well let me use my words to explain. This is me in the same attire as above but holding William, my Godson in his Ghostbuster onsie (Say what?! You have a Godson?! details below)! It is pretty badass. It will be even more badass when I have the pic. While I'm at it, I'll just toss the pic of us wearing our Thundercats clothing together.

This is also part of the photos I need to get. I'll use some more words. Not sure what my pic selection is like but this will be me at William's christening. This definitely has to be one of the main highlights of my year. I was extremely honored and flattered to be asked to be the Godfather of my friends' son, William. You know how people are always like, oh your kid is a cute baby ... oh they are so cute. It disgusting how true that statement is. You have to see him and you'll understand. He isn't even 1 yet and he's a lady killer. You should also see their daughter. She just kills you. All around they just make some damn good looking children.

Back to Richmond for Scott's sister's birthday. It was a Mad Men 60's double birthday party and it was a damn good time. I'm starting to really like it down there. I was kind of going for a cross between Harry Crane and Paul Kinsey. Please admire the bow tie ... because I tied it myself! That's right! I'm authentic! None of that already tied for you crap!

II.

I'm really loving the movie fall season so far this year. I've seen a lot of great movies in a short amount of time. That doesn't happen that often. Not just like meh movies, but actually good movies. In no real order (RT rating of course):  Martha Marcy May Marlene 88%, Moneyball 95%, 50/50 93% (hands down my favorite movie this year with The Beginners 84% in second), Take Shelter 94%, Melancholia 79% and Drive 92%.

As I mentioned earlier, it's crazy to me how time passes so quickly. There about a 5 weeks left in 2011 and there are seven movies I'm looking forward to seeing. That's a lot in a months time. I would like to go into more detail with each one later on but no promises. The first four come out this week so go see one or all of them with the lady/guy/family/friends/etc.

To enlarge each trailer: click once to start it, then click on it again to open in a new window.

The Descendants 90% 11/18/11 Limited Release

People hate on Clooney, not sure why, but I love everything he does. It is getting A LOT of attention and probably will be one of the top movies of the year.

My Week with Marilyn 82% 11/23/11

Ladies quote her like it's their job. The story looks good and filled with a decent amount of good actors (Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench).

A Dangerous Method 83% 11/23/11

I've mentioned before how Michael Fassbender is one of my favorite up-and-coming actors. I mean hell ... he's in two of the seven movies I have listed here. Keira Knightley (being generous) and Viggo Mortensen are the added bonuses to this film.

The Artist 96%!!! 11/25/11

Just read my earlier blog post about my joygasm for this movie!

Shame 86% 12/2/11

I think it was on facebook that I said Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan were both my favorite up-and-coming actors. Umm ... then they star in the same movie together?! SOLD!

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy 97% 12/9/11

I mean it's Gary Oldman for God's sake. It's kind of like when Daniel Day-Lewis finally decides to do a movie; you pay attention to what the hell is going on. I love me some DDL, but he's no Gary Oldman. Seriously, when was the last time he actually starred in a movie?! This is going to be pure magic. Also starring Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Mark Strong and Ciarán Hinds. This looks really, really good.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 12/21/11
I really liked the trilogy. I did NOT like the Swedish movies. David Fincher's version I do like very much. The trailer just blows me away. Very excited for this one.

I just totally hyped the hell out of myself right now by watching all these trailers back to back! I'm so freaking excited for all of these!!

III.

Melancholia is not your typical end of the world film. People are not running around panicked, news reports aren't being aired and entire cities aren't being shown completely destroyed. Instead, it is replaced with an intimate setting of how to come to terms with your impending doom. What else can you do when a planet the size of Neptune is going to slam into Earth? Where can you run and hide? Nowhere.

I'm not familiar with Lars von Trier nor can I say I've ever seen any of his movies. I am definitely interested in seeing more of his films now. The opening scene is beautifully shot with the prelude to Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" playing in the background and offers as, not all, but most of the eye candy in the film. I love me some good soundtrack in a movie but Wagner's song is the only one played throughout the movie. It is a little redundant but works well I think. It is the kind of movie that doesn't need a soundtrack to help carry it. You are too focused on what you are looking at and what is being said.

Melancholia is about "two sisters who find their already strained relationship challenged as a mysterious new planet (named Melancholia) threatens to collide into the Earth." While it mainly revolves around Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourga and Kiefer Sutherland, there are a ton of great cameos in the first half of the film (Alexander Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling, Jesper Christensen, John Hurt, Stellan Skarsgård and Udo Kier).

 The movie is broken up into two parts between the two sisters; Part I: Justine (Kirsten Dunst) and Part II: Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourga). Kirsten Dunst does a good job but plays as more of an emotion than as an actual character, as she delivers her acting through how she looks and feels visually, as opposed to delivering any real dialogue (Marie Antoinette). In the second half of the movie, she is more of a supporting character, which I felt worked better for her.

In an artsy movie like this there are numerous messages/symbologies throughout the film; many I'm sure I missed. Justine's horse's name is Abraham, which is no doubt a biblical reference to the book of Genesis (God creates/destroys the world) where a nomadic man begs God not to destroy cities but they are anyway because man is evil. Interestingly enough, Justine mentions how the world is evil and that Melancholia deserves to hit the Earth.

Although compared to man's most extreme worst case scenario, the film does a good job of showing how we are caught up in the trivial bullshit in our lives and how a lot of it really does not matter at all; grossly over the top extravagant weddings, materialism, money/wealth, your career is your life and just no matter what you have, you are generally unhappy.

Melancholia has the opposite tone of Tree of Life. Tree of Life played heavily on Genesis' creation. This movie uses Genesis' destruction as a theme. Melancholia isn't like Tree of Life where you walk out of the theater wondering what the eff you just watched. At the same time though, everything isn't spelled out for you, as it shouldn't be. It is not a totally out there movie like Tree of Life was, but it isn't grounded either.

It is one of those movies that leaves you thinking about it and that you need some time for it to sink it. It is definitely thought provoking. This is probably not a movie for everyone but I would recommend it because it is a pretty movie and the film leaves it so that it could be interpreted in many different ways.

It's weird how they are doing this now but this movie may be hard to find in theaters. It can be found On Demand and on iTunes. Which it makes it sound like a bad thing, but for this movie I can assure you it is not.