1. ★ ★ 1/2 The Great Gatsby (2013) by Baz Luhrmann was such a disappointment. We all know Fitzgerald’s story so I’ll cut to the chase. Candy-colored nonsense, excessive amounts of cheesy and unrealistic CGI, and at times, silly acting and cuts. Could you defend the film by saying it matched the emptiness of the time period? No! It was excruciating and brutal to go through. If it weren’t for Mulligan’s cuteness, or DiCaprio’s laughable accent, and Tobey’s bearable acting, then I would have died. But I will hand it to Luhrmann for some very fun scenes and an amazing soundtrack. All in all, a “nice” attempt of an adaptation for a timeless novel.  *props to Gershwin and what I think was a song done by John Adams who said he wouldn’t let films use his music??

    ★ ★ 1/2

    The Great Gatsby (2013) by Baz Luhrmann was such a disappointment. We all know Fitzgerald’s story so I’ll cut to the chase. Candy-colored nonsense, excessive amounts of cheesy and unrealistic CGI, and at times, silly acting and cuts. Could you defend the film by saying it matched the emptiness of the time period? No! It was excruciating and brutal to go through. If it weren’t for Mulligan’s cuteness, or DiCaprio’s laughable accent, and Tobey’s bearable acting, then I would have died. But I will hand it to Luhrmann for some very fun scenes and an amazing soundtrack. All in all, a “nice” attempt of an adaptation for a timeless novel. 

    *props to Gershwin and what I think was a song done by John Adams who said he wouldn’t let films use his music??

  2. ★ ★ 1/2 The Purge (2013) is an annual federal law which allows you to condone first degree murder for 12 hours to release all your anger and hatred out. First, it’s an interesting premise to begin with and makes sure you’re at the edge of your seat at all times, but where it fails is in the writing and, sometimes, meager performances and predictable jumps. The end takes a turn of satire and almost pathetic comedy, especially when the audience was clapping and roaring when the victims become the heroes by…killing. It’s like the reverse of Haneke’s Funny Games. As I said before, an interesting film, but fails in execution.

    ★ ★ 1/2

    The Purge (2013) is an annual federal law which allows you to condone first degree murder for 12 hours to release all your anger and hatred out. First, it’s an interesting premise to begin with and makes sure you’re at the edge of your seat at all times, but where it fails is in the writing and, sometimes, meager performances and predictable jumps. The end takes a turn of satire and almost pathetic comedy, especially when the audience was clapping and roaring when the victims become the heroes by…killing. It’s like the reverse of Haneke’s Funny Games. As I said before, an interesting film, but fails in execution.

  3. ★ ★ ★ 1/2 Crystal Fairy (2013) is about Jamie, a white kid in Chile that groups with three boys on a road trip to drink mescaline from a cactus called San Pedro. Riotous, raw, and real. I’m amazed with how little work was done with the film, but still turned out to be totally hilarious. Michael Cera is such a gentle asshole and Gabby Hoffman is beyond hysterical and touching. Improvisation at its best. Highly recommended. *Audience was laughing so hard for long periods of time that you couldn’t hear the movie. 

    ★ ★ ★ 1/2

    Crystal Fairy (2013) is about Jamie, a white kid in Chile that groups with three boys on a road trip to drink mescaline from a cactus called San Pedro. Riotous, raw, and real. I’m amazed with how little work was done with the film, but still turned out to be totally hilarious. Michael Cera is such a gentle asshole and Gabby Hoffman is beyond hysterical and touching. Improvisation at its best. Highly recommended.

    *Audience was laughing so hard for long periods of time that you couldn’t hear the movie. 

  4. ★ ★ 1/2 Me and You (2013) by Bernardo Bertolucci is about a pizza-faced 14-year-old who, instead of going on a school ski trip, camps out in the basement of his apartment where he encounters his drug addict half-sister. When I stepped out of the theater, several people were saying how great it was but I couldn’t find anything great about it other than great actors, an impeccable set design and art direction, and the brilliance behind how much can happen in a contained area. It seemed a bit subpar from his previous films. It seems like it’s worth a watch for Bertolucci fans~

    ★ ★ 1/2

    Me and You (2013) by Bernardo Bertolucci is about a pizza-faced 14-year-old who, instead of going on a school ski trip, camps out in the basement of his apartment where he encounters his drug addict half-sister. When I stepped out of the theater, several people were saying how great it was but I couldn’t find anything great about it other than great actors, an impeccable set design and art direction, and the brilliance behind how much can happen in a contained area. It seemed a bit subpar from his previous films. It seems like it’s worth a watch for Bertolucci fans~

  5. ★ ★ ★ ★ Frances Ha (2013) by Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig is about Frances, a dancer, and her best friend Sophie, a publisher, who’ve lived in a New York apartment for some time but split because they go their separate ways. It’s a coming of age story of twenty-somethings that’s a cross-breed between Woody Allen’s Manhattan and Lena Dunham’s Girls. Charming, cool, brisk in humor, and nostalgically and beautifully shot and written, Baumbach and Gerwig give us a movie that you can instantly relate to and fall in love with. Recommended.

    ★ ★ ★ ★

    Frances Ha (2013) by Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig is about Frances, a dancer, and her best friend Sophie, a publisher, who’ve lived in a New York apartment for some time but split because they go their separate ways. It’s a coming of age story of twenty-somethings that’s a cross-breed between Woody Allen’s Manhattan and Lena Dunham’s Girls. Charming, cool, brisk in humor, and nostalgically and beautifully shot and written, Baumbach and Gerwig give us a movie that you can instantly relate to and fall in love with. Recommended.

  6. ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 The East (2013) is an anti-corporate anarchist group in which an undercover agent joins in order to expose them, but how far must she go without losing herself within the group? Gripping from the very beginning, it’s a fantastic, fast-paced drama thriller that is in some ways Sound of My Voice on steroids. This is because both Brit and Zal had written the film the same time they made Sound of My Voice. Though they basically have similar premises and ideas, both are very good and it’ll be exciting to see The East come out in theaters very soon. Recommended.

    ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

    The East (2013) is an anti-corporate anarchist group in which an undercover agent joins in order to expose them, but how far must she go without losing herself within the group? Gripping from the very beginning, it’s a fantastic, fast-paced drama thriller that is in some ways Sound of My Voice on steroids. This is because both Brit and Zal had written the film the same time they made Sound of My Voice. Though they basically have similar premises and ideas, both are very good and it’ll be exciting to see The East come out in theaters very soon. Recommended.

  7. ★ ★ ★ ★ Populaire (deemed as 2013’s The Artist meets Mad Men) is about a girl from Nowheresville that travels into the city to find the modern-girl dream job as a secretary with her love for typing. Not only does she land the job, but…as a competing typist. Charming, full of candy-colored costumes and design, and a to-die-for soundtrack, it’s a darling film that knows its 50’s-60’s pop culture. The director even chose actors and actresses who resembled those from the past from Gene Kelly to Audrey Hepburn. It was like seeing Funny Face for the second time. A movie too easy to fall in love with, especially for those who love the 50’s and 60’s. Highly recommended~ p/s: Speaking of The Artist, it features Bernice Bejo who was the lead actress! So good to hear her speak!

    ★ ★ ★ ★

    Populaire (deemed as 2013’s The Artist meets Mad Men) is about a girl from Nowheresville that travels into the city to find the modern-girl dream job as a secretary with her love for typing. Not only does she land the job, but…as a competing typist. Charming, full of candy-colored costumes and design, and a to-die-for soundtrack, it’s a darling film that knows its 50’s-60’s pop culture. The director even chose actors and actresses who resembled those from the past from Gene Kelly to Audrey Hepburn. It was like seeing Funny Face for the second time. A movie too easy to fall in love with, especially for those who love the 50’s and 60’s. Highly recommended~

    p/s: Speaking of The Artist, it features Bernice Bejo who was the lead actress! So good to hear her speak!

  8. ★ ★ ★ ★  Capturing the Friedmans (2004) is a documentary that follows a warm, friendly family…that is involved with charges of pedophilia with a story that only spirals down to uncover the masks of this dysfunctional family. A sly, disturbing film that pulls you in further and further with surprising details that pile on top of each other. By the end of the film, you won’t know what to think or expect. Highly recommended.

    ★ ★ ★ ★ 

    Capturing the Friedmans (2004) is a documentary that follows a warm, friendly family…that is involved with charges of pedophilia with a story that only spirals down to uncover the masks of this dysfunctional family. A sly, disturbing film that pulls you in further and further with surprising details that pile on top of each other. By the end of the film, you won’t know what to think or expect. Highly recommended.

  9. ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 The Kings of Summer is about 3 boys who are tired of their current lives and decide to go Walden and live in a house they made from scratch in the woods. I’m so excited to say that I caught this movie early, but I’m sad to say that I wished I saw it over the summer. It’s a fantastic summer flick with the right bouts of humor and drama with such natural performances and a witty/quirky script. The film surprised me with it’s feel-good approach and, at times, gorgeous cinematography. The only problem I had with the film was the sometimes out-of-place soundtrack. Highly recommended for those wanting to catch an awesome coming-of-age story over the summer!

    ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

    The Kings of Summer is about 3 boys who are tired of their current lives and decide to go Walden and live in a house they made from scratch in the woods. I’m so excited to say that I caught this movie early, but I’m sad to say that I wished I saw it over the summer. It’s a fantastic summer flick with the right bouts of humor and drama with such natural performances and a witty/quirky script. The film surprised me with it’s feel-good approach and, at times, gorgeous cinematography. The only problem I had with the film was the sometimes out-of-place soundtrack. Highly recommended for those wanting to catch an awesome coming-of-age story over the summer!

  10. ★ ★ 1/2 Room 237 is a documentary that dissects The Shining from radical Shining enthusiasts from the film relating to Native American genocides, the Holocaust, and even the Apollo moon landing. Some of the ideas are ludicrous and some were actually interesting. The main problem of the film is holding your attention through unedited, no-faced commentaries and some of the laughable synced shots from an array of films. Although a bit messy, by the end of the film, it encouraged me to watch The Shining and other Kubrick films again. It’s a film I think would do well when it’s illegally uploaded on Youtube for the bored. 

    ★ ★ 1/2

    Room 237 is a documentary that dissects The Shining from radical Shining enthusiasts from the film relating to Native American genocides, the Holocaust, and even the Apollo moon landing. Some of the ideas are ludicrous and some were actually interesting. The main problem of the film is holding your attention through unedited, no-faced commentaries and some of the laughable synced shots from an array of films. Although a bit messy, by the end of the film, it encouraged me to watch The Shining and other Kubrick films again. It’s a film I think would do well when it’s illegally uploaded on Youtube for the bored.