Love and Other Drugs (2010) - the invention of love, and Viagra

directed by Edward Zwick / starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Oliver Platt, Hank Azaria

Jamie is a pharmaseutical sales representative, quite successful at what he does because of his charm (and looking like Jake Gyllenhaal doesn't hurt, either). He's what you call a player. Maggie is a painter-turned-photographer, an independent and outspoken woman suffering from Parkinson's, and avoiding commitment and relationship, but still very hungry for sex. The two reach a nice little agreement, which ensures loads of steamy, passing moments for both of them, no strings attached, just pure, guilt-free indulgence. Then, what do you know, some feelings begin to appear. And nothing good ever comes out of that, as we know, right? Oh, and somewhere along the way, Viagra is invented. Not that it really has anything to do with anything.

As the end credits scrolled to the screen and the lights went back on in the auditorium and I began to look for my shoes, I was thinking: "Did this film really need to be made? What did this film give to the world that it didn't already have? Couldn't they have spent the money to save the children of Africa or clone a turtle or something, and do something better with their time, like mow the lawn or hire someone to mow the lawn or read Anna Karenina? Why do they keep making films like this?" And, oh well, to answer my own question, because people not unlike me keep paying money to see films like this. Did it really need to be made? Nah. Would there have been better uses for that time and money? I bet. What did it give to the world? ... Well, if nothing else, then at least some images of semi-nude Jake Gyllenhaal. That might not make the world a better place, but definitely not worse, either.

Let's get the obvious over and done with: Jake Gyllenhaal is super hot and I could look at that body (and that face (and those eyelashes)) for hours and happily drown in my drool. They actually could've saved a lot of money by making this a silent film. Who needs to hear anything when there's an enormous Jake Gyllenhaal on the screen before you, right? Actually, at times, like during that final Kiss And Make Up Scene I noticed my attention drifting away as I started to think about what's in my fridge and when I'll have to do laundry again - WHILE still looking at the AH!-dorable puppyeyes, glistening with tears and begging for forgiveness. (The situation was a bit unfair, really. Puppyeyes like that should be illegal.)

I very much enjoyed Anne Hathaway, too. She's just a sweetheart, isn't she, who could dislike her? And I loved that hair of hers, where could I buy natural curls like that... It was really only the two leads that made Love and Other Drugs as an enjoyable movie experience as it was. Because even though the story was a bit blah and unoriginal, it was still nice to watch those two people together. Some moments were genuinely sweet and touching. My favourite gag was that homeless man, who kept collecting the Prozac Jamie got rid of and finally said he was going to a job interview. I kept expecting him to return as a bank manager or the new owner of Microsoft...

P.S. Anne and Jake were doing much better now than in their previous on-screen relationship, weren't they? I'm pretty sure none of them was a closeted gay this time, so yay, that's progress for you. Watch and learn, Kate and Leo!

"This isn't about connection for you. This isn't even about sex for you. This is about finding an hour or two of relief from the pain of being you. And that's fine with me, see, because all I want is the exact same thing."

Source Code trailer - oh boy, bring it on!

Well, doesn't this seem interesting! The Moon director Duncan Jones meets Jake Gyllenhaal and I like what I see. Damn, can't wait!

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Today my dear little brother thought it would be a nice gesture to celebrate my birthday by taking me to movies (= I said: "My birthday's this week. Pay for my film ticket. Thank you."). That precious little boy! Always so considerate.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)

Directed by Mike Newell. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina.

Long story short: Dastan is a reckless but loyal prince, who teams up with a beautiful enemy princess to protect a dagger that in wrong hands could potentially destroy the whole world.

First I have to come clean: the only reason I went to see this film was Jake Gyllenhaal. There I said it I feel better now! Haha. Now, seriously, I'm not familiar with the video game - I've only watched someone play it for five minutes and I drove him into madness with my ignorant questions. But yeah, after seeing this film I almost feel like I should try the game... if only I happened to be talented in that specific sport called video gaming. Which I am not. Too many buttons! My fingers get confused and refuse to co-operate with my brain.

... Fortunately confused fingers can't stop my eyes from enjoying some serious eye candy! Ooooh yes. But I'll get to that later.

I didn't expect much of this film, I was just looking to be entertained. I've noticed a long time ago it's a pretty good attitude if you want to enjoy a film. Again, it worked. I enjoyed the film. And I was even a little surprised by it!

The name Mike Newell screams Four Weddings and a Funeral to me, so seeing the name in the end credits was a bit unexpected. But what can I say, at least he's versatile! The beginning of the film dragged a bit, I think, but when it really got started it was fairly entertaining. Visually it looked very nice and all the fighting and video game-ish jumping was actually very cool! And yes indeed, the ending, which I'm not going to spoil for those still waiting to see the film, managed to surprise me. I expected a much more traditional ending. Though probably I should've seen it coming. But hey, I go to movies to rest by brain, not vice versa. Which probably makes me many movie maker's ideal customer! Bless me.

Alrighty, cast. I'll leave the sugar to the very bottom! (... I don't think they use that sugar/bottom phrase in English. Hmm. Shame. Well I'll leave that there anyway, because it so fitting. Ha ha haa.) In other words, I'll save the best for last! Gemma Arterton plays the beautiful and feisty Princess Tamina quite successfully. Again, I'm glad they didn't cast a Megan Fox/Angelina Jolie/such. The Princess could've turned annoying quite easily, but Gemma managed to make her likable. And still look amazingly beautiful!

Her and Jake worked well together, teasing and pretending to dislike each other and then falling in love (ooops, spoiler alert necessary? No one saw that coming, right?), and that was pretty nice to watch, too. They will make some insanely gorgeous babies!

Ben Kingsley did a routine role. Alfred Molina was quite funny, surprisingly so! Ostrichs are noble animals, indeed, and only losers pay taxes. Then I have to mention this fellow, who caught my attention. He has kind of a crazy name. Copy+Paste is a friend of mine... Gísli Örn Garðarsson. Apparently he's from Iceland. He plays the leader of the Hassansins (who by the way were very bad ass and very cool).

There was something very captivating about him and I wish he'd had more screen time. Those eyes and the scars... A bit like Anakin Skywalker! Only less handsome and way cooler. Sorry, I made that association just now and of course had to share it. I'm writing way too much gibberish tonight. Ah, the beauty of the stream of consciousness! Oh well.

And now I think we can get to the point. The sugar.

Hello abdominals! (Apparently that's what they are officially called. I can see why everyone prefers 'abs'. Anyway.) When I first saw Jake in The Day After Tomorrow, I declared his eye lashes to be the loveliest in the world and I still stick to that statement. Ah, yes. Though I still prefer Jake "properly" acting, I liked to see him go all action hero and kick some ass!

Hello abdominals! pt 2. Only one more pic. I promise. And no abs in this one.

He's so yummy I would eat him if I could. A friend of mine was worried that I might be stealing Jake from her, but no worries, really, as long as I get the eye lashes, I'm cool.

(Silencing the little brainless teenaged girl inside of me in three two one... now.)

It's amazing how long this post is becoming considering that the movie didn't really shake my world at all. Well, it's getting late and I guess it's just one of those evenings... Sorry for all the beside-the-point waffle. I make sure I'll punish myself properly. Maybe I'll make myself watch a movie with no shirtless men AT ALL! God, sounds terrifying.

Okay. Bedtime.

"Dastan, where's the dagger?"

"You're welcome to search me for it. You'll have to be very thorough." 

Edit// Aaaah, it's June! Did this really take me that long? God... Anyways, happy June, everyone.

My TOP 5 favorite movie couples

I'm a sucker for a good movie romance. Here are my favorite movie couples of all time!



5. Cecilia & Robbie (Atonement)

If I had to name my favorite movie - strictly just one - I would probably refuse to do that because it's quite impossible, but if I absolutely HAD TO, I think I would say Atonement. It is a very beautiful film, both visually and story-wise. It's one of those films I just need to watch regularly. (The book is excellent, too.) Oh, and it really fired up my love for James McAvoy, who's been my favorite actor ever since. The story of Robbie and Cecilia is not the happiest one, quite the opposite, but they are granted their moments: the library scene (just smoldering hot), their hands secretly touching each other in the dinner table, when they meet after a long time in the cafeteria and Cecelia puts her hand in Robbie's cheek... Oh yes. I really want to watch it again, it's been too long!

"Robbie."
"Cecilia."
"I love you."
"I love you."


4. Jack & Ennis (Brokeback Mountain)

First, how awesome are Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger? Answer: very. Movies this slow usually mostly bore me, but this one I can watch again and again. It's really so much more than a "gay cowboy movie", ugh, I hate that term. It has a lot of beautiful moments, which Gyllenhaal/Ledger act just perfectly. When they meet for the first time after four years and just jump on each other... I could watch that scene a million times.

"You know, it could be like this, just like this, always."

3. Celine & Jesse (Before Sunrise/Before Sunset)

This couple stands out, as their story is less epic and dramatic than the rest - they are actually the only ones on this list, who stand a chance to live happily ever after. Sometimes realism rocks! I ADORE these two little movies. They always make me want to pack my bags and go wander around Europe alone. The chemistry between Celine and Jesse is SO REAL, their story feels SO REAL. This is the kind of thing I want to experience myself! They just click! They are not without their problems of course - there wouldn't be a movie if there weren't problems - but it feels REAL (hi, my name is Broken Record, nice to meet you!) and like it could actually happen in real life. YES. It's awesome. They have talked about making a third one, but only when everyone's stopped waiting for it. There was a gap of nine years between the first two, so I wouldn't hold my breath, but... I like where we were left in the end of the second one.

"Maybe we're only good at brief encounters, walking around in European cities in warm climate."


2. Satine & Christian (Moulin Rouge!)

I might be talking rubbish, but I dare say that Moulin Rouge! was the first movie I really fell in love with. It's also, no doubt, the movie I've watched the most times - I can't give you a number, I lost count a long time ago. This is earth-shattering, life-altering, larger-than-life love... and of course it ends in tears. Maybe that's what makes it so powerful. After all, that's what the whole movie is about - Christian telling their story that ended too soon. Ewan McGregor is just dreamy in this film. He's even better as this romantic, poor, sensitive young writer than he is as Obi-Wan Kenobi (and that's saying something!). His singing is just... aah! I just melt away everytime he starts singing Your Song. Or anything, really. Oh, where's that soundtrack, I feel like melting!

"Come what may, I will love you, until my dying day."


1. Rose & Jack (Titanic)

There's really no other option here. Number one has to be the most epic, the most heartbreaking, the most legendary love story of all. (Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler don't stand a chance here, for my opinion they were never meant for each other.) Titanic is just... well, it's Titanic! I don't think I need to explain myself. There won't probably ever be anything quite like Titanic, for me at least. I was just glancing through some of the lines, and almost got shivers just doing that. Jack and Rose just are Jack and Rose, and you can't really beat that. (I feel like saying something nasty about the main couple of Avatar - see, I can't even remember their names! - but I won't, because it would imply that I'm bitter because of the huge success of a film that relies only on special effects and boys and their toys and the greed of JC and because Titanic should always be Cameron's most successful film and it isn't anymore and it's stupid . And I'm not bitter. Eh... Am not! Much.) Titanic is a very special film for me, and 'epic love story' is practically just another way of saying Jack and Rose. Amen. (And Kate Winslet is my second favorite actor, right after Mr. McAvoy. Leo's not terrible either.)

"When the ship docks, I'm getting off with you."
"This is crazy."
"I know. It doesn't make any sense. That's why I trust it."

Brothers

Today I was meant to see The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, but they didn't have any in my nearest Makuuni. Shame, I need to go check again soon! I really want to see it, though I'm afraid I won't like it. Terry Gilliam can do very weird things, sometimes too weird (e.g. a film called Brazil...). But there are at least four reasons to see the film: Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law. Enough for me!

So, plan B was to watch this film that has been on my must see -list for quite a while now.

Brothers (2009)

Directed by Jim Sheridan. Starring Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal.

Long story short: Captain Sam Cahill is captured by the enemy in Afganistan. Back home, his family is told that he has died. Sam's brother Tommy, who's just recently got out of prison, does his best to take care of Sam's wife Grace and his two daughters. Eventually Sam returns back home, but he's not himself anymore. He's messed up, paranoid, haunted by what he did, refusing to tell Grace what happened (and looking like a skeleton, I might add).

So. It's Spiderman, Padme Amidala and Jack Twist all together in this excellent drama about family and war. First I have to compliment the cast. That nerdy Peter Parker is all grown up, I've never seen Tobey Maguire like this before. He's excellent, and I'm a bit surprised this wasn't acknowledged in the Oscars. He's very greepy at times, but also well showing the love he has for his family. Natalie Portman then... Everytime I see her in other films than the Star Wars prequels, I can't help wondering what made her act so badly in those three. Because she really is more than able to channel emotions in a believable and touching way! What was that cheesy, corny, phony "Anakin, you're breaking my heart!" horidness?? My guess is, George Lucas, mostly. With all due respect, George, of course! I love Star Wars anyway. And finally, the wonderful lovely Jake Gyllenhaal with those eyelashes I can't get enough of! Ah. No, but seriously, I liked that he played a bit darker character this time, with a bit of an edge! Those tattoos looked good on him, but despite his bad boy image, he still had warmth in him. But well, no matter what he does, his performance in Brokeback Mountain will always be his best in my book. Can't beat Jack Fucking Twist.

The characters were all great, real and easy to like. I just loved those two little girls! And even Sam and Tommy's dad got some of my sympathies, although he was a bit of an a-hole. The plot was interesting, and I was gripped by it the whole time. I cried a bit, I laughed and smiled, I was shocked, I was nervous... The end came too soon, I wanted to know more. I don't know if that's a sign of a bad ending or a good movie (a bit of both, probably), but I felt too many things were left unfinnished. Despite that, a very good film. I can warmly recommend it to everyone.

"I don't know who said 'only the dead have seen the end of war'. I have seen the end of war. The question is: can I live again?"

I read that they are planning on doing another Ring movie - in 3D, of course, are there other options nowadays... Why am I already sick with this 3D phenomenon? (Maybe because it makes my eyes hurt. I'm afraid my last Harry Potter experiences will be ruined because of it.) What's wrong with 2D? Nothing. Sure, sometimes 3D works well, but come on. If they really are going to re-release Titanic in 3D (and I'm sure they will, James Cameron likes money a bit too damn much. It's a shame he did Titanic, otherwise I could dislike him without boundaries...), I of course have go and see it, because Titanic on a big screen just has to be experienced, but couldn't they release a good old 2D version too? Please? Pretty please? It would make more money, my dearest James!

Hmm. I believe I was talking about the Ring sequel. Although I believe it might be a prequel! Since they kind of eliminated the change of Samara returning in the second one... But well, they said they found a loophole. Great. Anyway, that sweet little girl crawling out of the tv and practically out of the screen too sounds pretty scary. No way I would see it in cinema. Or who knows.