Cold Weather

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: When a guy's (Cris Lankenau) ex-girlfriend (Robyn Rikoon) disappears, at first he doesn't care, but then he realizes that this is his opportunity to practice being a Sherlock Holmes-style detective.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Cris Lankenau, Trieste Kelly Dunn, Raul Castillo, Robyn Rikoon

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. The pace is very slow, and the amount of time the characters spend not talking often seems artificial, but the movie is cute at other times, and it's definitely an approach to a detective story that I'd never seen before.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: I laughed on the inside at how hard it was for me to figure out if the brother and sister were dating, or if they were really brother and sister. You could cut the unintentional sexual tension between them with a knife.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: When they named this film Cold Weather, I think they were just referring to the protagonists primary character trait.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It takes place in Portland, Oregon, so-- Most Rain?

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Populated entirely with unknown actors, it's surprising that three of the four main characters had me wondering how else I would cast them in Hollywood fare and what kinds of roles I could see them playing in the future. That's a very good sign for those actors. Not such a great sign for the movie, in which I found so much extra time to think about other things, like the future success of these actors.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: While the shots themselves are unremarkable, the pace of the shots, and the length of the shots are noticeably trying too hard to be interesting. This, to me, is pretentious. The cinematography is flattering, though, and the above mentioned 3 actors are all made to look very attractive.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: My sense is that the script was a little too short, thus causing all the shots to have to be drawn out to unnecessary proportions, for the purpose of making the film long enough to qualify as a feature film. Since the writer is the director, he has only himself to blame.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Cold Weather Trailer

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The Yellow Handkerchief

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Three lonely strangers (William Hurt, Kristen Stewart, Eddie Redmayne) end up together on a road trip, each of them searching for the love that isn't where they came from.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: William Hurt, Kristen Stewart, Eddie Redmayne, Maria Bello

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. People are strange when you're a stranger. This pretty much sums it up. But Jim Morrison may have said it with more feeling.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: I heard some people in the theater laugh once, and it jolted me out of the movie, like a sound I couldn't recognize in the context of my experience.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: It's sad that people are so desperate for love that they will take whatever is right in front of them, only because it's less disappointing than whatever had been right in front of them in the past.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Only movie this year named after a color and a decorative body draping that isn't nominated for an Oscar. (I'm contrasting it with The White Ribbon, she said, well aware that if you have to explain your joke, it probably isn't that funny to begin with, but desperately trying to prove that theory wrong... only to further prove it absolutely correct.)

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Kristen Stewart is a one trick pony... it's not a terrible trick, but it does get redundant.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Udayan Prasad weaves clearly between the past and the present, as the mystery behind why William Hurt's character started the story in jail is revealed.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The reasoning behind each character's motivations for staying, leaving, running away, and coming back are vague at best. I could read into them and decide for myself what each person was driven by, but I don't relate enough to people this marginal to try to wager a guess... My God, did that sentence make me sound like an elitist snob! I'm sorry, marginal people of the world. Oh, no, I'm only making it worse! That does it, I'm locking my mouth shut... for today.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-yellow-handkerchief/32578/trailers

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Seven Pounds

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: After killing 7 people in a car accident, Ben Thomas (Will Smith), decides to find 7 deserving people whose lives he can save.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Michael Ealy, Barry Pepper, Elpidia Carrillo, Robinne Lee, Joe Nunes, Bill Smitrovich, Tim Kelleher, Gina Hecht, Judyann Elder, Madison Pettis, Fiona Hale

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! Much like practicing yoga, the process of doing it isn't all that enjoyable, but you feel really good once it's over.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: About as much as yoga does.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Yoga can be very cathartic.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: I'm inventing the Eleanor Rigby Award, and giving out the first annual one to this movie because none of the characters in it seem to have any friends. Ahhh, look at all the lonely people. But that's L.A. for ya'. People would rather be totally alone than have to get in their cars and drive anywhere.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The acting is fine, but Will Smith's character lies and sneaks around so much that he starts to come off like a sociopath. Which in turn makes it hard to understand why Rosario Dawson is so into him. Maybe because she doesn't have any friends.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: There are a surprising number of shots that aren't in focus, and I can't think of any artistic reason for that to be the case, so I don't think it was a choice. Also in the beginning of the film the lighting is often too dark or too bright, causing your pupils difficulty adjusting. And in my case, even causing my eyelids to have to close a little bit.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It starts out really slow and confusing (especially if you don't know what it's about), but soon builds to a bittersweet, yet inspiring tale of romance and redemption. Does it have a million holes? Sure it does. But if you go along with the good feelings it imparts, you might not care.

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

A: The score combines melodrama with a lullaby, which rocks you to sleep. Probably not the best choice, since I doubt the filmmakers want the audience sleeping. This is yet another similarity with yoga, because sometimes I find it hard to stay awake when I'm lying in Savasana,  too.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/search/seven%20pounds/trailers

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