Boyhood

I finally got around to seeing Boyhood and it was such a fantastic film! I'd highly recommend it... 

Still from Boyhood (Richard Linklater, IFC Films 2014)

I think one of the things I liked most about it was that it was so easy to relate to and felt like nostalgia to watch. If you enjoyed Richard Linklater's other films, particularly the Before Sunrise series, you'll probably love this one as well! It's similar in that it's more about people than events. Just as the "Before" series feels like watching real human interaction and conversation, Boyhood feels like a realistic representation of what it's like to grow up. I think you'll have an extra appreciation for the movie if you grew up during the early 2000's, as you'll be able to pick out little things like music, t.v. shows, toys, etc. from your childhood. Although, you certainly don't have to have grow up in this time period because anyone from any generation can relate to what it feels like to be a kid (which is whats so great about this movie!) The dialogue also struck me as incredibly realistic. As I was watching, I kept thinking about the fact that either myself or someone I knew had said almost the exact same thing before. This in combination with the fact that the same actors and actresses were used over a 12 year period almost makes the you forget you're not watching a documentary. I can't help but think what a labor of love this movie must have been for everyone involved in making it, since they had the dedication to come back year after year and continue filming. I definitely think it was one of the best movies of the year! 

Have you seen it? I'd love to hear more opinions! 

Also, check out this awesome infographic about the cast and crew!

The Art of Comedy

Amy Poehler in high school

Comedy is such a difficult genre. Recently I was watching Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (which is such a cool approach to comedy with a casual vibe) and thinking about the genre in general. I feel like it's so hit-or-miss, since people have such varied senses of humor. Besides whether or not they think something is funny, everyone also has opinions about what they think is okay or not okay to joke about. 

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Golden Globes promo

Often, comedy in movies or t.v. shows appeals to only a small percentage of the population. I also can't imagine how nerve wracking it must be to be a stand-up comedian in front of a crowd of strangers, especially if you tell a joke and it falls flat. I'm really interested in what types of comedy people find funny. 

Still from Mindy Kaling's hilarious Harvard Law School commencement speech.

Some of my favorite comedians are Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling. I also love Aziz Ansari! I feel like I need to discover more up and coming comedians, so I think I'm going to check out some of these ladies. My favorite comedies on t.v. right now include Parks and Recreation, Community, and The Mindy Project. I also loved The Ricky Gervais Show (the animated show using podcasts). It's hilarious! In fact, I tried watching it when I got my tonsils out and had to stop because I was laughing too hard and it was painful. 

Aziz Ansari on Sesame Street (Image via instagram)

Who are your favorite comedians? What comedy t.v. shows and movies do you love?

Favorite Movies of 2013

So many great movies came out this past year! It's really hard to pick favorites. I still have a few movies from 2013 that I've been wanting to see but haven't yet, such as Mud and Fruitvale Station. Here are my 5 favorites, in no particular order...

Still from Her (Spike Jonze, Warner Bros. 2013) Image Source

1. Frances Ha: This movie is just so easy to relate to (at least for the 20-something crowd, or really anyone who has been a 20-something). The plot is fairly simple- a young woman living in NYC and having trouble with her job, her friends, and finding a place to live, but it's hilarious because it's so true to life for a lot of people. Pretty much all of the things that happen to Frances have either happened to me or someone I know. One of my favorite lines from the movie was when her credit card gets rejected at a restaurant and she says to the person she's dining with, "I'm so embarrassed. I'm not a real person yet." Exactly how I feel sometimes.

2. Before Midnight: If you liked the other movies in the Before Sunrise series, you'll probably love this one. You have to be interested in the kind of movie where the plot completely revolves around conversations between two people. I think that's what makes it seem so real- it's not about big things happening all the time, it's just about people talking about life and figuring things out. This movie is a bit less lighthearted than the previous movies in the series, which only makes it better. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delphy are brilliant, I love both of them.

3. Her: I think many people were deterred by the previews for this movie because it seemed like a strange concept- a man falling in love with an operating system. I don't think the concept is really that strange at all though- everyone is just looking for a connection with someone. Theodore's operating system, Samantha, provides that for him at a moment when he really needs it. Joaquin Phoenix is always amazing but I especially loved him in this. It's such a unique movie in the romantic comedy/drama genre. It's not strictly about love, but about all of the emotions that come along with it.

4. 12 Years a Slave: This movie achieved exactly what it intended to. It was intense and sad and sometimes very hard to watch. The fact that it's based on a true story makes it all the more disturbing and upsetting. The acting was phenomenal, especially Chiwetel Ejiofor who plays Solomon Northup, the free black man who is sold into slavery. It's one of the most historically accurate movies about slavery in America and it's something that everyone needs to see. 

5. Stories We Tell: I'm always interested in seeing new documentaries, and this one didn't disappoint. Sarah Polley interviews family and friends about the life of her deceased mother in an effort to uncover the truth about family secrets. Although at first glance it seems like just a family's story complete with personal photos and home videos, it's actually a compelling look at the way different people view the same person. The interviews are sweet, sad, funny, and fascinating all at once.

Inside Llewyn Davis and Blue Jasmine almost made the list. It's so hard to choose! Did you see any of these movies? What were your favorite movies this year?