Titanic Review

Titanic

By: Danika Grady

We all know the story of the incredible ‘unsinkable’ ship that sailed the Atlantic Ocean decades ago. Titanic is a brilliantly done story of the inconceivable event that changed history forever. Titanic sailed to America from England in 1912 and was the biggest ship of its time. Tragedy struck just days after departure when they hit an iceberg in the north Atlantic. The film, made in 1997 was a remarkable tale of two very different people aboard and their love story.

Written and directed by James Cameron, Titanic was the most expensive film of its time. The star studded cast that included Kate Winslet and Leanardo Di Caprio made the movie what it is today, the timeless classic that is a must see. Despite knowing the outcome of the movie, this tale kept me riveted throughout. I rooted for the characters and it nearly brought tears to my eyes when I remembered their fate.

Titanic is a fictional story about an upper class woman, Rose (Winslet), who trapped in a loveless engagement. One night when she was so sick of the monotony of her life she tries to throw herself off the stern of the boat. Startled by this show of desperation Jack Dawson, a lower class man (Di Caprio), stops her. The two strike up a conversation which soon turns into a friendship. The friendship of course soon turns into a love that is so passionate Rose is willing to give up her engagement to be with him.

Their love is interrupted when the ship hits that fated iceberg. Their desperation to stay together during the panic and chaos of the sinking ship is truly wondrous. The amount of passion the two share what with the little time they’ve known each other, is shown through the pairs unwillingness to separate even to save their own life.

The attention to detail in the film is incredible. Throughout it they manage to show off the decadence that is the Titanic. The many different settings depict the upper class rooms and decks as well as the fantastic boiler room with its extra large engines and the lower class decks where Jack originated.

To say this film was good is an understatement. From the first scene it had me spell bound in its complex plot and incredible acting. The fact that it took home 11 oscars is no surprise. I defiantly recommend this film to all ages. This is one you can’t miss.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

By Anna Anderson

Imagine if you weren’t growing older, but growing younger. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button follows a man from birth all the way to his death. In this glorious production, you see when he does things such as get his first job, and when he falls in love. You will follow him through all his struggles and all his achievements.
From Warner Bros Pictures, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) was directed by David Fincher, the same man who directed Fight Club and Alien. This movie had actors such as Brad Pitt (Benjamin Button) and Cate Blanchett (Daisy Fuller). In the PG-13 movie, the story of Benjamin Button, who was born with a curious disease in which he was born old, is told through the perspective of his diary.
In the midst of hurricane Katrina, an old woman who is dying in a hospital in New Orleans has her daughter, Caroline, read the diary of a man named Benjamin. It was April of 1918 when he was born, after being abandoned on a door step by his father; Benjamin was taken in by a woman who ran a home for old people named Queenie. Queenie cared for and loved Benjamin as her son. Benjamin grew in that house and one day he met a young girl about his age named Daisy Fuller whose grandmother was living there. He loved her from the moment he saw her and that love never died. As Benjamin grew younger, he did many things; all the things a normal man would do. Get a job, fight a war, explore the world, own a business, fall in love and have a child. As Caroline reads the last lines of the diary and finds out the truth about Benjamin Button, the evacuation sirens are blaring and the hurricane has found them.
So many moments in this movie were intriguing and important to the movie but one that really caught me was when Thomas Button told Benjamin he was his father. The look of hurt on his face when Thomas said “I couldn’t stand the sight of you” was so real, I could almost feel it. Despite that, Benjamin was able to put that aside and ended up taking his father to the lake house to watch the sun rise. To Benjamin, the past didn’t matter.
I recommend this movie to anyone all ages. Every one will get something out of this movie, the only thing to be concerned about is the length so fidgety children may not want to sit for about 3 hours.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
By: Danika Grady

During the celebrations of the end of World War I, a man rushes home to his wife who is in childbirth. Little does he know that the child born on that night will not only kill his wife, but be a very curious case. Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) was born as an infant who had all of the characteristics of an old man. As he ages his body gets younger and younger, until he finally dies as an infant once again. In addition to this complicated notion there is a second story intertwined within it. As a young boy in an old mans body, Benjamin is enamored with a little girl by the name of Daisy (Cate Blanchett). As his body gets younger and younger as he ages their physical appearances meet in the middle. They share a passionate romance but it ends harshly when Benjamin leaves for the sake of their child. It is impossible for him to take care of her when he himself will begin to deteriorate into an infant once more.

Rated PG-13 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is beautifully made with specific attention to detail and wonderful cinematography. Directed by David Fincher, this film goes above and beyond the original short story written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The characters are astonishingly well developed throughout the film and the settings and plot line mesh seamlessly.

Benjamin Button is brought into this world as an old man who ages backwards. When his mother dies in childbirth his father abandons him to a kindly nurse who runs a local senior residence. Queenie (Taraji P. Henson) takes him in and loves him like her own son. When he is about 5 mentally and 80 physically his life and mentality are altered when he meets Daisy, the granddaughter of one of the seniors he lives with. From the start Daisy knows Benjamin is different. Despite their difference in physical appearances the two become friends. Throughout the next 20 years the two meet occasionally and keep in touch, while each tries to find their way in the world. In one fated meeting the two connect again and begin their romance. When a child is conceived of their love Benjamin leaves to protect the child from himself.

Throughout this sequence Pitt plays his part flawlessly, flowing from old man to 20 year old with ease and just a bit of make up. The chemistry between him and Blanchett on screen is evident as the two undergo life’s insecurities. The drama and emotion in this film is clearly offset by the amount of humor that was inserted in appropriate parts. Benjamin Button was a refreshing film that at times had me at the point of tears and in the next sequence laughing. The rapidly changing tone was a change of pace that was utterly delightful to experience. I recommend this film to anyone able to see it. I enjoyed it immensely and despite its length found myself engaged the duration of the film.

Benjamin Button Review

David Fincher; forty-seven, was the director of this riveting tale about a rather curious man named Benjamin Button who has a disease in which he grows younger. Throughout Benjamin’s life, he is constantly altering who he is. From being a “Tugboat man,” to being a wealthy business man and even living as a peasant in India, he never seems to stay at any one place for very long. He encounters many struggles in which he allows his resilience to help him stay afloat even though at times, all roads seem to lead nowhere.
From Warner Bros Pictures, the Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) not only has an extraordinary plot but has phenomenal acting as well. Some of which are the following: Brad Pitt as Benjamin and Cate Blanchett as Daisy. This film received an astonishing 8.5 out of 10 stars. This movie is basically about a man who travels the world and has to live his life backwards, from old to young.
Benjamin Button starts off as an “old” toddler and quickly discovers the reality of the outside world through his rapidly evolving lifestyle. He begins to fall in love with a woman named Daisy who he grew up with. They unfortunately realize that they cannot be together after Daisy gives birth to a baby girl and Benjamin leaves because he doesn’t want to leave her with the responsibility of caring for both the new born and Benjamin himself.
Though I enjoyed all aspects of this film, there was an abundance of memorable events that occurred. One of which being when Benjamin describes Daisy accident through a series of minor facts that all contributed to the accident. “If that man hadn’t waken up five minutes late, if the lady hadn’t broken up with her boyfriend the night before…”
I recommend this movie to all ages both young and old. Everyone who watches this film will walk away with something majestic. However, if you are the type of person who can’t sit through a movie that is three hours long, then bring a pillow.

--Dillan

Doubt

Doubt Review
By: Danika Grady


In the heart of a catholic school set in 1964 New York, a quiet war is being waged. The seemingly kindly father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is up against the sever and terror inducing principal of the school Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep). The two clash when the priest is accused of misconduct with one of the students. Throughout the brilliant film, Doubt keeps the audience hanging, neither proving nor denying the claims of the infallible Sister Aloysius.
Rated PG-13, this film goes deep into the heart of a catholic school. John Patrick Shanley, the writer and director, creates an atmosphere thick with tension in this thought-inspiring film. Streep and Hoffman mesh perfectly together and create the chemistry on scene that creates the sense of realism in the theatrics on screen. In addition, Viola Davis as Mrs. Miller, works in sync with Streep to bring another aspect to the already awe-inspiring film.
As an opening into the underlying themes of this movie, the curtain is drawn onto a Sunday morning mass where Father Flynn speaks about doubt, and how it affects people in general. This sermon ignites the first sparks of curiosity in Sister Aloysius, who proceeds to warn the rest of the nuns in the school to watch for anything amiss. The innocent Sister James (Amy Adams) is roped into the center of the conflict when she reports an incident involving the only African American student, namely Donald Miller (Donald Joseph Foster II) and Father Flynn. Aloysius immediately investigates and throughout the rest of the film is determined to bring Flynn down.
The climax of the film in my opinion came at the end, when Aloysius and Sister James sat in a courtyard. Aloysius reports that Flynn has resigned following her accusations but has been transferred to a different parish. Seemingly understanding that the leaders that she thought so infallible disregarded her claims so readily made Aloysius doubt. What she doubts however is unclear. Each person must come up with his or her own conclusion bringing with him or her end of the story.
This is definatly not a film for the weak minded. The plotline twists and turns and the underlying themes are deep and though provoking. I thought this was a truly powerful film and recommend it to anybody who is able to see it. The combination between the actors, setting, plot and themes are incredible and depict a story the likes of which have never been seen before on the big screen.

Doubt Review by Anna

Doubt

By Anna Anderson

Doubt; the feeling of uncertainty about the truth, reality or nature of something. People always have doubts but what if your doubts are what are stopping you from doing what you feel you must do? Will you be able to look past those uncertainties or will you let your doubts stop you?

By Miramax films, Doubt (2008) was directed by John Patrick Shanley, who also wrote the screen play and the play. This PG-13 movie has such actors as Phillip Seymour Hoffman who played Father Flynn, Amy Adams who played Sister James, and Meryl Streep who played Sister Aloysius Beauvier.

Doubt is set in a St. Nicholas catholic school in the Bronx in 1964 during a time of social and political change. The school has accepted its first black student and the charismatic Father Flynn takes a special interest in the young boy, Donald Miller. After Sister James, a young innocent teacher at the school, goes to the strict principal of the school Sister Aloysius Beauvier about her concerns regarding Father Flynn’s interest in Donald, Sister Aloysius grows suspicious of the priest. Sister Aloysius goes after Father Flynn with no evidence but her certainty.

A key moment in this movie is when Sister Aloysius speaks with Donald Miller’s mother. It gave a sense of Donald home life and gave some reason to his behavior. Sister Aloysius tells Mrs. Miller about her suspicions and Mrs. Miller explains that it doesn’t matter because all they have to do is wait until June and then Donald could graduate. She also explains about Donald’s “Nature” and that his father beats him because of it. This scene was vital to understand Donald’s character more.

This movie is really did leave it up to the audience to decide whether Father Flynn is guilty or not. All you really see is the interaction between the characters and the confrontation. It would have been nice to have a little more clarity on what was really going on between Donald Miller and Father Flynn because, just like the other characters in the movie, you really don’t know. Doubt is really not for the younger audience because the controversy of the relationship between the priest and the young boy. Another reason is that the younger audience may not exactly be able to understand the movie or what’s going on. Personally I don’t think this movie is all that great and I wouldn’t really recommend it.

Doubt Review

In a time when priests were being accused of molestation, Doubt reveals the truth behind the Catholic struggles. It showcases the real life events that were occurring in this time period across the nation. This film hits you with all aspects of the typical stereotypes of a church but leaves the audiences with a reasonable amount of loose ends left up to you to interpret.

Filmed at St. Nicholas in the Bronx, New York, Miramax Films did a reasonable job in the making of this film. However, I think that the writers of Doubt needed to explain some events more thoroughly and not leave it completely in the hands of the reader to decipher the deeper meanings woven into the film. Some of the more popular names that were involved in the making of this film were Meryl Streep who played Sister Aloysius and Philip Seymour Hoffman who played Father Flynn.

The basic idea of Doubt surrounds the idea of Priests molesting children of the church and them trying to keep it secret from everyone. Although, in the movie, a nun Sister Aloysius pursues the truth in regards to hers and Sister James belief that Father Flynn has indeed molested a new African American student by the name of David Miller.

One thing that interested me about the movie was the way in which Sister Aloysius came about getting Father Flynn to somewhat admit to the molestation of David Miller. She lied about her contacting a nun at a past monastery that Father Flynn had previously worked at and that the nun had mentioned facts supporting her suspicion of Father Flynn. This made Father Flynn scared and forced him to leave the church.

I do not recommend this movie to all people. I only recommend this movie to those who have a good grasp of the stereotypes of the Catholic school system. If you like unanswered questions and loose ends up for interpretation, then this movie is perfect for you.

--Dillan