Shut Up & Sing, The House Bunny, The Last Winter
Shut Up & Sing
[ 4 stars out of 4 ]
Prior to watching this documentary, I liked the Dixie Chicks (Natalie Maines, Emily Robinson, and Martie Maguire) because their songs are catchy and fun. My parents own their CDs and I came across their album “Fly” one day and became a fan right then. I’m not much of a fan of country music but I am a fan of the Dixie Chicks. But after viewing this movie, I respect them even more because of the way they stuck together as not only a band but also as close friends after Maines said that she’s ashamed of President Bush. It was scary watching how the media like the FOX News, conservative politicians, and country stations (and fans!) made her statement into a much bigger deal than it should have been. Personally, I don’t think Maines did anything wrong because it’s her opinion and she has the right to express her political ideals. That’s one thing, but when people actually started saying that the band doesn’t support the troops in Iraq and things like that, you just know that it’s turned into something ugly. I must say that I was surprised to find out that somewhere in the middle of this revealing documentary, it transcended the whole controversy and started to pick apart the inner workings of the band. Some of the songs that were featured during such scenes were touching, sensitive, smart, and full of passion. By the end of this film, I felt like the Dixie Chicks was a phoenix rising from the ashes. There was something really sad about them actually starting from the beginning, garnering new fans, and straying away from country bit by bit; at the same time it’s uplifting because they are still loved, especially in Europe, and they deserve to be. One of this film’s many brilliant messages is that if you don’t give up and if you work hard enough, the things that you have lost can be regained. I’m so glad that the Dixie Chicks stood by with what they believe in… and not losing their humor along the way (especially Maines). I highly recommend this documentary because it’s definitely not just for fans.
House Bunny, The
[ 3 stars out of 4 ]
I was pleasantly surprised with this film. I came into this movie knowing that I’ll like Anna Faris, but I wasn’t convinced that I’ll like the movie because the premise seems a bit early teenager. I imagined it to be as fluffy as cotton candy; that I won’t take anything from it. I was glad to be proven wrong because there were some moments of genuinely touching moments here. Some include the “heart in the head” and “meteor” scenes. Faris and Colin Hanks had some pretty effective (though a bit unusual) chemistry together. They couldn’t be any more opposite but they pulled it off quite well to the point where it was borderline romantic. Meanwhile, Emma Stone, Kat Dennings, and Dana Goodman were able to match Faris’ quirks and antics. In fact, each of the supporting characters had something to do even though half of them were still somewhat one-dimensional at the end of the picture. My biggest concern with this movie is that it lost its momentum during its half-way point. Don’t get me wrong–the second part still had its funny moments but it there wasn’t enough laugh-out-loud jokes compared to the first half. I think this would’ve been a superior picture if it had been cut down a bit and had sharper writing in the second half. I say see it because the actors are so earnest in their roles, you’ll forget you’re watching a film you probably have seen before.
Last Winter, The
[ 2 stars out of 4 ]
I’ve heard many scintillating reviews about this picture, mostly from professional critics, but I was less than impressed. Since the entire movie was set in the Arctic, it’s impossible to not compare it to John Carpenter’s horrifying “The Thing” and a brilliant season one episode of “The X-Files” called “Ice.” Those two are probably five or six times better than “The Last Winter” directed by Larry Fessenden. I’m not saying that I didn’t see any talent or moments of brilliance in this picture. It’s just that those truly chilling scenes were immediately followed by blase dialogue and trite scenes that have nothing to do with the bigger picture. I say get rid of the romance angle between two (or three!) characters and focus more on the idea of wendigo, hallucinations, and isolation in the Arctic; the love triangle greatly slowed down the first half to the point where I rolled my eyes out of frustration. But the second half had its scary moments. I saw this film about one o’clock in the morning and I actually had to turn on the lights because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to sleep after the movie ended. I would’ve definitely given this film at least three stars if the entire picture was focused on peeling off the mystery and delivered thrills one scene right after another. There were two scenes which I thought stood out: the videotape and the helicopter landing scenes (and their repercussions). I was at the edge of my seat during those scenes and actually caught myself saying, “Oh, my god… That’s so crazy!” A lot of people have been saying that this film had a lot of implications regarding how people neglect our environment. I hardly noticed any of it and was more interested in character development (which didn’t happen). “The Last Winter” reminded me of “The Ruins”–so much potential to be great but had poor execution.
