Another Earth

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: At the moment we discover another parallel Earth, a teenage girl (Brit Marling) drunk drives into a family of three, killing the wife and young son. When she gets out of jail, 4 years later, she tries to apologize to the surviving husband (William Mapother), and ends up becoming his maid instead, giving them an opportunity to get to know each other.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Brit Marling, William Mapother, Jordan Baker, Flint Beverage, Robin Lord Taylor, Kumar Pallana, Diane Ciesla

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! Not since Birdie (1984) has a film that just barely holds my attention become an instant indy classic based 100% on the conclusion.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Did you laugh during Winter's Bone? Because this is just a repeat of that cold, dark tone, with a vastly different plot.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Gasp, yes. Empathize, yes. Cringe, yes. Cry? It's almost too depressing for that simple of an emotion.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It won two special prizes at Sundance. Why do you think I went to see it?

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Brit Marling, much like Jennifer Lawrence, is a beautiful blond playing a low class dirty tough chick. Unlike Jennifer Lawrence, Brit Marling fails at hiding her beauty in this role. But I can definitely see why everyone was talking about her after Sundance. She's an A-lister in the making. William Mapother also breaks out in this role, although I personally wasn't nearly as impressed with his acting or his beauty. (And a lot of the time I was distracted by looking for similarities between him and his cousin Tom Cruise (maiden name "Mapother"), of which there are plenty.) Special mention to Jordan Baker, in the tiny role of Brit Marling's mom, because she reminds me of Diane Keaton, and on Another Earth, could've had her career.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Mike Cahill makes his directing debut with this incredibly Sundance-y looking film. The Winter's Bone influence works well enough, but on more than one occasion, he uses dissolves in a way that reminds me of a cheesy 1970s Steely Dan Video.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Brit Marling and Mike Cahill, who have collaborated before and I assume are dating (this is how rumors get started), write a slow, quiet, and somber movie with enough poignant dilemmas to keep your attention until the Inception-like ending, which puts the whole story over the top.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: I know this is terrible to bring up, but I'd like to take wagers on how many months Brit Marling can make it in Hollywood without getting a boob job. I don't normally notice this through clothes, but she's the most flat-chested actress I've seen since Selma Blair. I'm giving her 2 more flat chested movies, and by the 3rd, I'm expecting to see a C-cup. So, I guess that adds up to about 9 months. Come on, you love me because I'm honest!

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Another Earth Trailer

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Revolutionary Road

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A couple (Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet) are smitten by each other in the first scene. Cut to the part where they're married and fighting and grasping at straws to keep the dream alive.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kathy Bates, Kathryn Hahn, David Harbour, Michael Shannon, Zoe Kazan, Dylan Baker, Jay O. Sanders, Richard Easton, Max Casella, Max Baker

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. This movie makes the point that marriage is a hopeless, desperate prison, in which people get locked so securely by the traditional entrapments of life's occurrences, that-- much like the vows say-- the only way out may well be death.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Only if you're a confirmed bachelor or bachelorette. And even then, it's not the movie that will make you laugh, so much as all the idiots out there who were dumb enough to get married.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: No, but it might make you wish you were watching Titanic... And if you do that you might cry.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: The hype is there, but the feeling that this film will become a classic is not. Still, I wouldn't count out the score, which is good despite the fact that it's reminiscent of the score this director and composer turned in for American Beauty.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: I liked them better in Titanic, when they had the decency to die before getting a chance to get married and ruin all the romance.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Sam Mendes consistently makes movies with poetic visuals and well though out composition. This is no exception.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: I haven't read the book it's based on, but I can tell from seeing the movie that the book is much more powerful. Maybe pick that up first, to get the full effect.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: Since I wrote this last night, Leonardo, Kate, and the movie itself have been nominated for Golden Globes. If any of them beat out the much stronger performances in their respective categories it would be a travesty.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/search/revolutionary%20road/trailers

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