The Bling Ring (2013)

“It goes to show America has a sick fascination with the whole Bonnie and Clyde thing.”

            Everyone has an idea what they would buy if they were a filthy rich celebrity. My goodness, my list is a mile long! I would want a sports car (I drive like an asshole to begin with), to live in a gorgeous house somewhere either in London or California or New Jersey (lay off NJ is where I am from. And no I would not live near the shore I already live near it and it is not all it is cracked up to be), Chanel whatever I can lay my hands on and other designer clothes, perfume, and jewelry (again, lay off, I am a girl after all), an apartment near the Metropolitan Museum of Art (so I can go there whenever I want) I would collect prints by my favorite photographers, whatever photo camera I wanted, all the movies on DVD and Blu Rays and books I can possibly imagine, and the number one things  on my list are an incredible library and an insane movie theater. My house/apartment would not be outrageously gaudy or extravagant I am simple and I appreciate art and design. It would be modern but comfortable and homey.  

            But since most you reading this blog are not filthy stinking rich have you ever thought what it would be like going into a celebrity’s home and what kinds of insanely expensive things they would have inside? If you were to somehow get inside a celebrity’s home would you still things if they were not around? In The Bling Ring a group of friends goes around to the homes of celebrities when they are not home and steal whatever they see and their hearts desire.

            Marc Hill starts a new school in Calabasas, California. The school is for kids who could not cut it in a normal high school. For example Marc skipped too many days of school. He meets a girl named Rebecca and she immediately takes to him. Rebecca has Marc meet her friends Chloe, Nicki (Emma Watson), and Sam. All of them have high tastes and constantly wonder what it would be like to be a celebrity with a lot of money even though most of them come from money. Rebecca is obsessed with Lindsay Lohan and out of all of the friends she desperately wants the celebrity lifestyle.

            One day while reading some Hollywood news website Rebecca and Marc read about Paris Hilton hosting a party outside of California. This gives Rebecca the idea to have Marc look up Hilton’s address and to go rob her house. That night the two go to Hilton’s house and find a key underneath the outdoor mat.

            This one break-in leads to several more at Hilton’s house alone as well as other celebrities’ houses. The other break-ins include Nicki, Chloe, and Sam. They find money and jewels and clothes. With the money they go out to clubs around the city and spend whatever they want.

            Eventually all of them are caught. Nicki, Chloe and Sam were only seen on one surveillance camera while Marc and Rebecca were caught on multiple cameras. The first three are only given a year in jail and a three hundred thousand dollar fine. Marc and Rebecca are given four years and an eight hundred thousand dollar fine.

            The cast was good but I felt they were all wasted in their roles. Emma Watson completely stole the movie (no pun intended I swear). She was brilliant. She looked fantastic too. I was impressed with how well she put on the California accent and hid her British accent. Leslie Mann played her mother in a few scenes. You want to talk about an actress whose talents were totally wasted in a film then talk about Leslie Mann in this movie.

            This is the first time I have seen a Sofia Coppola movie. Her direction was not too bad and so was her writing. I found her direction dull. Coppola lingered too long with some of the scenes and I hate it when directors do that. The scenes she lingered on were not good to begin with. The other scenes were good I liked Coppola’s direction in them.

            The Bling Ring was a film I had wanted to see for a while and, to tell the truth, it was only to see Emma Watson. Watson did not disappoint as I said she was fantastic. The story was a bit frustrating and that is because I cannot believe how dumb it made some celebrities look. How damn stupid are you if you have a house worth millions and items that added all together are probably worth more than the house to leave a key under the mat?! Sure they all had a security system in place but no alarms? Some celebrities are stupid to begin with and this just made some of them look even worse and they get no sympathy from me whatsoever for what happened to them. The characters were rich annoying troubled people who just did what they did for a rush because they were bored and were obsessed with the fake celebrity lifestyle.  

            The Bling Ring is worth seeing at least once just for Emma Watson. Just do not have any expectations going into it.

            I shall leave off with a question to you: How would you want to become filthy stinking rich?

My Week With Marilyn (2011)

“It's agony because he's a great actor who wants to be a film star, and you're a film star who wants to be a great actress.”

            Ever since I saw Some Like It Hot as a kid I have never understood Marilyn Monroe’s appeal. Sure, now I like her in Some Like it Hot as well as Don’t Bother to Knock, and The Misfits but I still cannot for the life of me figure out why she is so loved, so popular, and such an icon. I guess I am of the minority of film lovers who does not understand her appeal nor even care to. The world is obsessed with her even fifty years after her death. Today you can turn on NBC at ten o’clock to watch the show Smash which is about the making of a musical based off Marilyn Monroe’s life (I do watch Smash I am obsessed with, not with the Marilyn aspect but for the fact that has a good story and some awesome music. Also I have a girl crush on Katharine McPhee!). To me if anyone says they like Marilyn Monroe I have to roll my because Marilyn is like the popular girl at school she is the one classic actress that everyone knows and they all over look the least popular (in today’s terms not in their times) actresses who had the most talent. I would love to do an experiment where I hold up a picture of an actress like Mary Pickford or Carole Lombard, an actress not a lot of people would recognize today, then hold up a picture of Marilyn. I could only hope that at least one person I asked would who Pickford or Lombard are.

            When I heard that a movie called My Week with Marilyn was coming out I wanted to throw something at the TV. Another damn movie or story about Marilyn Monroe the most over rated woman on the planet next to Audrey Hepburn? At this point after I have stated how much I cannot stand the actress you are asking yourself why on earth did this psychotic person watch this movie if they cannot stand Marilyn? Well, to answer your pondering, I was curious and my friend said it was not that bad (last time I ever listen to her!!)

            The film tells the story from the point of view of a young British man named Colin Clark. He weasels his way into getting a job with Laurence Olivier’s production company in London. The first film Colin is be an assistant on is Olivier’s (Kenneth Branagh) film The Prince and the Show Girl which is set to star Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) as the show girl who wins a grumpy old man’s heart. From the moment Colin sets eyes on the actress he is immediately attracted to her not only her beauty but her sadness, her cry for help, and her desperation to be liked.

            Colin becomes Marilyn’s assistant in some ways and becomes her trusted friend during filming. When she needs someone to comfort her she calls for Colin. Marilyn’s publicist tells the young man to back off but Marilyn finds a way to get to him. The publicist warns Colin that Marilyn will think he is the only one in the world for her and then when she is done will move on to somewhere and someone new and break his heart.

            Olivier is the director as well as the star of the film. The man was not really known for his kindness or patience and would get really frustrated with Marilyn always being late or not knowing her lines. Marilyn felt that Olivier did not really like her and belittled her acting.

            By the end of filming Olivier says that Marilyn has such a screen presence and could really be a big star. After The Prince and the Show Girl Olivier would star in a comedy on stage that is considered one of his performances and Monroe would make Some Like It Hot one of the best comedies films ever.

            The only thing I liked about the movie was Kenneth Branagh as Laurence Olivier because there were times where he looked and sounded so much like Olivier it was scary. He absolutely deserved to be nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar he was perfect. I felt terrible hearing that Vivien Leigh had played Marilyn’s role in the stage play but Olivier felt that at forty-three she was too old. Give me a damn break, Vivien Leigh even at forty-three was the most beautiful woman on earth. The only role I have ever enjoyed Michelle Williams in was Dick where she was a silly teenager along with Kirsten Dunst (one of the most hilarious movie ever!). I cannot believe that Williams was nominated for Best Actress her performance was crap. Emma Watson has a small role as a costume department assistant whom Colin likes but ignores as he becomes closer to Marilyn. Dominic Cooper is Marilyn’s American publicist Milton Green (playing an American when he is actually British… interesting). He was so hot! Watson and Cooper are like the only two actors in the film who can act and they were given small roles. Julia Ormond plays a very unconvincing Vivien Leigh in three or four scenes.

            In a review I read about the movie a critic called it My Weak with Marilyn. I have to agree with him, there is nothing interesting with this story nor is the filmmaking anything to brag about. There was nothing interesting about the film besides Kenneth Branagh’s performance. And I still do not understand what makes Marilyn Monroe appealing to so many people, if anything I cannot stand her even more. Unless you are on the Marilyn Monroe bandwagon I would skip My Week With Marilyn. 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)



“I never wanted any of you to die for me.”

            It is very sad to think that the Harry Potter series in both book and film media are over. I came into the loving the series only two years ago when I finally had an open mind and a curiosity to read them (especially after reading the ridiculously horrible Twilight series and seeing the God awful first movie). Although I came late to the series when my friends and brothers had been reading them for years I am so happy I read the books and watched the movies when I did. I have such an appreciation for them and I understood a lot of things that I never would have had I started when I was younger.

            Today I went to the theaters to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. From beginning to end I was not disappointed. In all the darkness there were light moments like Ron and Hermione finally kissing (!!!!) as well as Harry and Ginny sharing a very nice kiss (I can be a sentimental romantic at heart when I feel like it). I even choked up a bit and had tears in my eyes in a few scenes. It was so sad to see the end of so many beloved characters. I remember reading the book and crying and it was worse with the movie because even though I knew what was going to happen it was even more upsetting to see it.

            Voldemort and his followers storming Hogwarts was incredible. The whole battle at Hogwarts was filmed and acted so utter perfection by the whole cast and all the characters past and present. I am giving this scene away because it was one of my all time favorite parts in the book and it was one of the best scenes in the whole series: Bellatrix goes after Ginny with all the Weasleys standing behind her. Mrs. Weasley gets this look of such anger on her face and she yells at Bellatrix “Not my daughter. BITCH!” Oh my God! I can still remember the first time I read that I was so excited. Thank God I was sitting alone when I saw this today because I was jumping around like an idiot!

            There are so many other fantastic scene scenes in this movie but I cannot give them away. If you have seen any of the other Potter movies you know that it does not stop for one second and that the story will always keep your eyes glued and your heart pounding.

            The cast was amazing. I do not think another series of movies will ever be as fantastically cast as Harry Potter was. Daniel Radcliff, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint were perfection together. They were given these great opportunities as actors at an age when they had no idea what they were getting themselves into and right from the beginning just fit their roles so well and really made Harry, Hermione, and Ron their own. The rest of the cast as well were cast perfectly. Besides Harry, Hermione, and Ron I think the best casted character was Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix. I gushed about her in my review for The Deathly Hallows: Part 1but I have to gush about her again here. Bonham Carter took Bellatrix to a whole new level. The character is a twisted, creepy woman in the book but she just Bellatrix and made her even more twisted and creepy. Whatever movie I watch her in she just has the ability to add something more to her characters. There was a part in this film where I was just completely awed by her. It is not some earth shattering scene with earth shattering acting she was just subtle and it was great to see her in the scene with the other actors.

            Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 was such an excellent way to end the film series. It neatly ties up and sums up the whole series and the three friends’ journey. I greatly enjoyed seeing the characters’ relationships grow and seeing that they were always there for each other. If you have read the book you know the very ending and it is a wonderful ending. The movie ends the same way (but DO NOT go reading the last page of the book!! My one brother did that). I have some very fond memories of seeing The Half Blood Prince with my one of my best friends and all her friends who are Potter freaks along with my little brother at midnight. Being with them and a theater fully of Potter nerds was so much fun. It was also my little brother’s first midnight show and he had such a ball (he was eleven at the time and is now twelve as of this writing). I am so happy that he and I have that something special to look back on. He still gets excited when we talk about it. My friends all love him as well because he is not a typical little annoying kid so that was another thing that made the night nice.

            After reading all seven books and seeing all of the movies I feel like I am finally in on one of the most amazing things to have ever happened in pop culture. I feel like a cooler person in some ways for now being a fan of Harry Potter (what a nerd haha). I love the world of Harry Potter JK Rowling brilliantly created and her world all the directors, cast, and crew were able to bring to life. All the movies were so excellently made especially Half Blood Prince and The Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2.

            Do not miss out on seeing The Deathly Hallows Part 2 in theaters especially because this is the last Potter movies in theaters. The story, direction, effects, actions, and acting are all utterly amazing

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows



“These are dark times, There is no denying.”

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt.1” is definitely darker than the other six Harry Potter movies. The magic world has been thrown into chaos with the Dark Lord and his followers fully taking over. No one is safe, even muggles are being attacked. The Ministry of Magic now has a sculpture of a wizard crushing muggles under stone in their “rightful” place.

            For Harry, Hermione, and Ron the world as they knew it is gone. They can’t even go back to Hogwarts or any place they use to know as safety. The three friends are away from all they know for almost the entire movie. The only happy spot in the film is Bill Weasley’s wedding to Fleur Delacour. Even that is broken up when a message from the Ministry of Magic comes to tell everyone the Ministry has been taken over and the minister has been killed. Hermione disaparates away with Ron and Harry to a spot in London where she used to go with her parents. Since they cannot find a safe place in London, Harry, Ron and Hermione are forced to travel through woods and mountains to keep away from Voldemort’s followers who are on the lookout for them.

            I cannot give too much away without spoiling the whole movie.

            I really liked this installment of Harry Potter. I liked how they were out of their element away from Hogwarts, after seeing Hogwarts for so many years it was starting to get a bit old. I felt the same way about the book as well I liked how they were out in the real wizard world.

            Deathly Hallows and its content provides every actor in the movie with great material and a great way to show their acting abilities. Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliff, and Rupert Grint were so brilliant. All three have always been fantastic as Hermione, Harry, and Ron but now that they are older and the material is darker you can now see what fine actors they have become. Some of the best performances come from Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliff when Harry and Hermione are on their own after Ron leaves for a bit. Harry and Hermione have such a nice friendship, I enjoyed seeing them without Ron we got to see more of their friendship then we’ve ever seen before.

            Of all the roles and of all the characters I have to say that one the best is Bellatrix Lestrange played by Helena Bonham Carter. In the book Bellatrix is a loony but with Helena Bonham Carter playing the character she just makes Bellatrix amazing. When I read the Deathly Hallows there was one part in the book that I was freaking out with because I was picturing Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix in the movie and how incredible the scene was going to be. And let me say the scene made it into the movie and it was everything I could have imagined and more. I find Helena Bonham Carter to be one of the best casted actors in the series. I don’t think there is an actress out there who could pull off being creepy looking and acting as creepy as she does. She allows herself not only in this movie but most of her movies to become this dark, weird character that a lot of actresses today would never dare to do.

            I was surprised how far the movie went into the book. I was expecting them to end at a certain part with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I am guessing that the writer and director went as far as they did because the next part to come is going to be out of control and amazing. They did take out a lot of things, some of them I feel are important to the story but looking at it for the movie the things are just fillers.

            I left the theater loving Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt.1. Once the movie was over I said “ok I want to see the second part right now!”(if you ever want a fun experience go to a Potter movie at the midnight showing. They’re so much fun) I cannot wait for the summer to see the second part. Knowing what is going to happen and what the ending will be like I just can’t wait to see all the action come to life.

            This Harry Potter is nonstop. Visually like all the other Potter movies this is stunning. Everything from the acting, lighting, direction, costumes, sets, and special effects are so well done. See this in theaters for sure before the next part comes out in the summer