Jeff Who Lives At Home: This is Fate Calling

Paramount Pictures

This film could be making a point about determinism, but the focus on choice as the main ingredient  to shaping one's life suggests otherwise. For people who believe everything happens for a reason,  this film is absolutely right for them. Jeff (Jason Segel)  believes signs are everywhere. People must be open to these signs in order to make the right choices. He lives by this belief wholeheartedly.

Fate is actively involved in people's lives; by simply understanding the language of fate, people will  be properly instructed what course to take in life. Signs of  an  interconnectedness is powerfully preached, and is at the core of this film.  Intertwining events leading to a moment of joy and clarity is so well conveyed, it is easy to convert any one who views life as possessing no meaning, into believing, the universe possesses an intention responsible for helping people through life.  Jeff's  belief supports the notion of an ordered universe,  in  tuned with people's happiness and sorrows.  

Paramount Pictures

It's a "struggle." Fate may be involved, but people must choose. Sometimes it is difficult to understand the message fate sends. Not fully understanding what his fate was, Jeff was awaiting an answer. As a  pothead slacker with no job, living in his mom's basement,  fate sent a message to Jeff , and it was  "Kevin."  Through Jeff's pursuit of understanding this message,  the film makes the point,  reaching one's destiny may require enduring hard times. One may have a destiny that is not destined to be easy.   

Paramount Pictures

The characters are dealing with adultery, disillusion,  sadness from being unloved, and being misunderstood. How happiness can be drained from people's lives in disappointment, life did not end up as they planned, was delicately treated in one scene featuring Susan Sarandon and Rae Dawg Chong. If there is a plan, if everything happens for a reason, what's the reason for an unfulfilled life ? Fate does not provide reasons, it provides signs, and people must be cognizant to recognize these signs. Again people must choose.This is a beautiful film that makes you feel may be there is a force in the universe looking out for people.       

Ben Hur: Condemned Men

Warner Bros

" You are all condemned men. We keep you  alive to serve this ship, so row well and live."  Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins) boldly announced the fate of the slaves steering the Roman battle ship. Sweaty, hopeless, bony, and shackled to the machinery of death that will claim their lives, these condemned men have a lot in common with those who are working hard, and earning little. When the economy sinks, many people sink with it. 

I could easily imagine Quintus Arrius saying, " You are all condemned people. We keep you  alive to serve this economy, so work well and live." In actuality some  economist stand as Quintus Arrius promoting employment as the source of economic life.  Yes there are variations in economic schools of tought, but the comparison  of  the slaves  being worked to death reminds me of the common worker who commits long hours to realize a descent quality of life that is becoming increasingly challenging to achieve. 

Warner Bros

In this scene Ben-Hur saves Quintus Arrius who is part of the governing class. In stretching one's analogical muscle, one can say this scene is somewhat symbolic of  a bailout where the poor, middle, and possibly upper class rescue the ruling elite, despite facing economic adversity.  In fairness, if the economy cannot be salvaged, the wealth of the poor, elite, and middle class will be affected, with the elite possessing more resources to endure abject economic conditions that others cannot withstand.   

Beyond economic concerns, it is about living a fulfilled life, and  not merely existing as an object of labor.  This is painfully difficult to do, in the case of dire need demanding economic interest be prioritized simply to make ends meat. Many work jobs that provide no emotional satisfaction.  Dreading Mondays, dreading another meeting that you find boring, regardless, you play the role of concerned employee simply to keep your job. There  may be some who are truly condemned, but if your at a point in life that allows you to explore the option of doing something you love. Just do it.   
 
 

Dr. Evil Talking to Michael Dell

As of right now, roomer has it  Dr. Evil will be using Dell computer systems to take over the world. That is why you see him talking to Michael Dell. Tears for Fears said it best. Everybody wants to rule the world. Dr. Evil is no exception. Maybe Mr. Bigglesworth does not want to rule the world.  After all, He is just an ugly bald cat. 
Hopefully I' ll see Mr. Bigglesworth in Austin Powers 4. As of yet there is no release date for the film at all. Mike Myers, will be writing the script, and it seems like Jay Roach will be directing once again. My favorite of the franchise is Goldmember.  

Norman: Clitish

Accent Film Entertainment

Official Site: www.normanthemovie.com
Director(s):  Jonathan Segal
Writer(s): Talton Wingate
Producer(s):  Kim Blackburn Bowen, Rich Cowan, Dan Keston, Hawk Koch.
Starring: Dany Byrd, Emily VanCamp, Richard  Jenkins, Adam Goldberg. 99 min.

How long can  a person carry out a monumental lie? Norman (Byrd) carried his lie about having cancer until it nearly destroyed his relationships, especially the one he had with his newly found beautiful girlfriend Emily (VanCamp). Was Norman selfish for being so dishonest? After experiencing severe loss, and yet to experience more severe loss, evidently Norman was emotionally troubled.  Pretending to be a cancer patient  with only three months to live had very little to do  with the troubles at home, at least directly.  Given the context in which the lie was committed, one can criticize Norman for his dishonesty, but also acknowledge that his situation may induce erratic behavior, such as suicidal thoughts. 

Norman described himself as an "incredibly sad kid" with "nothing to look forward to." The loss he suffered along with dealing with his sick father (Jenkins) shaped Norman into  a troubled teen with a bleak outlook.     

Accent Film Entertainment

Norman conjured up the lie in a heated argument with his best friend. It was suppose to be a harmless lie, but  the lie grew faster than Norman could control. After a while Norman noticed people were nice to him because he was supposedly dying. His best friend became more understanding. One of the kids who was mean to him apologized. Norman's popularity grew but for  the wrong reason. Emily is the one person who was nice to Norman regardless if he was dying with cancer or not. However, the magnitude of the lie was such that it jeopardized the happiness he found in his relationship with Emily.

Accent Film Entertainment

Incredibly,  even when Norman faced immense pressure to confess, he carried on the lie to exhaustion. To be fair, On several occasions Norman tried to tell the truth, but it seemed people were willing to explore the tragedy of the  lie rather than accept the tragedy of the truth, which was Norman was miserable from dealing with what appeared to be an  insurmountable loss, and the  sickness of his father. The

Accent Film Entertainment

 film made a good attempt at being a dark comedic  drama. Frankly it was just dark and dramatic. The subject matter overwhelmed the film to the point one overlooks the humor. Great performances by Richard Jenkins, Emily VanCamp, and Dany Byrd. This was a truly engaging independent film. Not a masterpiece. But worth watching. Metacritic.com rated the film 60/100 with mixed reviews. Rottentomatoes.com granted the film nine fresh tomatoes to five rotten ones for a favorable review. I'll give it an 80.  

Snow White and The Huntsman: A Bad Apple

Universal

Official Site: www.snowwhiteandthehuntsman.com
Director(s): Rupert Sanders
Writer(s): Evan Daugherty, John Lee Hancock, Hossein Amini 
Producer(s): Sam Mercer, Palek Patel, Joe Roth,
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Toby Jones.  Rated: PG-13. 127min. 

The most interesting character in Snow White and The Huntsman is Ravenna(Theron). Her love of beauty contrasted by her hatred for men makes her incredibly complex; almost feminist. Ravenna's hatred of men stems from her belief  that men only love women as long as they stay beautiful other than that there is no use for them. In a world of pillage, she was taught beauty is refuge from misfortune, and possibly even death. Nurturing this belief, beauty translates into survival, and adoration. Most importantly, beauty translates into power. Therefore, a vehement pursuit of youth and beauty is the sole purpose of Ravenna in keeping her power. This certainly has not made her a happy person.

Universal

Angry, controlling, dependent, and narcissistic, Ravenna cares very little for the people suffering in her kingdom. Youth and beauty are not infinite. Ravenna must kill young beautiful women to keep her ageless, but only the murder of one young woman would grant her immortality. Her name is Snow White.   She is the opposite of Ravenna. Loving, brave, and blessed with good will, Snow white threatens Ravenna's reign by existing as the angelic hope, contrast to a demonic woman that has drained the kingdom of color and smiles. Not trained as a warrior, Snow White is still

Universal

brave enough to a lead an army of men and some dwarfs to conquer the evil imposter Queen Ravenna to restore the kingdom to grace.  As with most summer block busters, Snow White and The Huntsman was visually impressive, decorated with ample special effects.  All the creatures in the film were mesmerizing. I wish there were more of  them. The casting for the film was just right. Initially, I had some reservations about Kristen Stewart as Snow White but she conquered my doubts, as her character conquered Ravenna. Perhaps one can liken Snow White to Joan of Arc and Ravenna to Elizabeth Bathory.  

Universal

History Aside, the film was entertaining, but not mind blowing. The production was awesome.  The final battle was good, but not powerful. Regardless, I'm glad to see this version of Snow White on the big screen. Confession time. In the back of my mind, I'm  just waiting for Dark Knight Rises. Admittedly, it is affecting my critique. Until I watch this upcoming masterpiece, every movie will be subject to my disorder which is an obsession with Christopher Nolan's directing. Metacritic.com rated the film 57/100 for mixed reviews. Rottentomatoes.com granted the film 77 fresh tomatoes to 86 rotten ones for an unfavorable review.  I'll give it an 80.