movie reviews – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

Life, Love and the Movies Blogathon

Published on January 26, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle6 Comments

Last year, I participated in three of 5 stages in the 5 Obsturction Blogathon created by Nostra of myfilmviews.com. I enjoyed the blogathon because it made me look at movies and movie reviews in a different way. Unfortunately, I couldn’t finished it because life got in the way, but I promised myself if he hosted another blogathon, I would be all in. MyFilmViews.com along with Karamel Kinema have created the Life, Love and the Movies Blogathon.

The rules are simple, answer the following 16 questions.

Life

1. What was the first movie you saw in the cinema and what do you remember about that visit? The first movie I remember seeing in the movie theater was 1977 Smokey and the Bandit. The movie stared Burt Reynolds, Sally Field and Jackie Gleason. I remember not really understanding it. I was really young.

2. Are there any movies you have very strong memories of which are not because of the movie (for example something which happened at the time you were watching it)? Smokey and the Bandit holds a strong memory. The story: “The Bandit is hired to run a tractor trailer full of beer over county lines in hot pursuit by a pesky sheriff.” That trailer of beer was Coors beer and my father worked for Coors at the time in the marketing department and it was shameless marketing how often they showed that truck full of Coors beer.

3. Which movies had a big impact on you and changed a (small) part of your view on life? 1980 Urban Cowboy because it took place in Houston and that’s were I was living at the time. It was cool to have a movie set in your own city. We got to share it with the word. Although the movie didn’t do much to dispel any of the Texas stereotypes.

4. Do you have any comfort movies which you return to because you are in a specific mood (for example if you are feeling down/nursing a heartbreak)? Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is my go to movie to put myself in a good mood. Not only is it southern and sexy it has some amazing dialogue.

5. If a movie would be made about your life, what type of movie would it be and who would you like to portray you? It would be some type of chick lit movie with a lot of humor, but at the center, it would be my journey to find my passion. Thandie Newton could play me. Although we look nothing alike.

6. Which existing movie best represents you? The Matrix – I spent most of my life doing what was expected of me. I wasn’t unhappy, but I always thought I was supposed to be doing something else. I feel like I had been asleep for a long time, but two years ago, I finally woke up.

7. If you knew you would die tomorrow, what would be the last movie you would want to see? The Avengers. It is my favorite movie with my favorite movie character (Tony Stark/Ironman) and the dialogue is brilliant.

8. If you can spend your life working in the film industry, what would you be and why? (you know, director, producer, actor, cinematographer, costume designer, sound designer etc?) I would like to be a studio executive/executive producer. I would have the opportunity to make decisions on what movies got made and help to raise funding for those movies. If I did have this job, trust me, there would be a new Avenger movie out every six months for the rest of my life.

Love

1. Did you ever have a first kiss with someone while at the cinema and if so which movie was playing? I haven’t, but how cool would that be.

2. What is your favorite movie relationship and why? Anna Scott & William Thacker – not only is it the regular person with the famous person, but the movie doesn’t just stop when they finally get together, you get to find out what happens after that. That movie had the most satisfying ending.

3. When did your love for movies start and how has it grown? I have loved movies as long as I can remember. A movie a week was normal for my family growing up. Often we had a movie day on Monday holidays, we would spend the whole day at the movies watching one after the other. We got in four one time. It’s my favorite escape.

4. If you have to choose one film to watch with your loved one, what would it be and why? I have two depending on where we were in our relationship. He’s Just Not that Into You if I needed him to think differently about relationships and Titantic if I wanted him to see what never dying love is all about. (I know, most of them die, but it’s a feeling)

5. If you can choose one character from a movie to be your significant other who would it be and why? Legolas from LOTR and The Hobbit. Not only is he beautiful in the most masculine sort of way for an Elf, but he is loyal, understands tradition, spiritual and he will fight and die for you.

6. What was the first movie that made you fall in in love with film and cinema? I had an early love of movies, but I think The Breakfast Club made me recognize and fall in love with a perfect movie. It was the first moment I realize what an amazing script, amazing cast and an amazing director could create.

7. How did your passion for movies turn you into a movie blogger? My friends used to play the movie quote game and I would pick the most obscure dialogue or line and stump them every time. On a trip to London when I was 15, I got home sick and the thing that made me feel better was reciting the entire script of The Breakfast Club. My love of quotes is where Sydney Quotes the Movies come from.

8. What is your favorite date from a movie? I don’t know if this actually qualifies as a date, but my favorite couple moment is from Notting Hill when Anna gives William the Chagall painting and says my favorite movie line of all time, “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.”

Where did your love of movies come from? Join the blogathon and tell us.

The 5 Obstruction Blogathon – Obstruction 2

Published on July 30, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle5 Comments

Month two of The 5 Obstruction Blogathon and we are challenged to write a review of a movie and include an interview. I get a gold check mark if I am able to interview a person involved in the movie. Well, fortunately, I didn’t have to go to far to find a quality interview. On a recent trip to LA, my brother ran into one of his high school friends, Mr. James Lopez. James is a studio executive at Screen Gem a division of Sony Pictures.

He was generous enough to answer my amateur journalist questions and I think I got some good stuff. Hope you enjoy.

Think Like a Man

Think Like a Man chronicles the relationships of four guys attempt to get back at their women once they discover they are being manipulated by the mandates in the book, Act Like a Lady and Think Like a Man by comedian Steve Harvey.

As the Studio Executive on this film, James’ responsibilities covered the time frame from acquiring the project for Screen Gem to the films release and every step in-inbetween.

While I didn’t want to bust my own magic movie bubble, I was fascinated by how this self help book with no characters was transformed into an ensemble cast motion picture. James credits the writers in creating the unique take on the project, which was essential in getting the movie green lighted.

The movie is full amazing relationship dialogue between men and women. During the writing process, James felt the movie needed some extra “funny”. He hired a comedic writer to “punch up” (industry term) the comedy. The result is a good movie with great witty rhetoric and one liners. Some of my favorite:

“We’ve been betrayed by one of our own. A man. I’m talking about a man with a penis. Someone who should know better.”

“I’m one of the guys except I have a vagina.”

“I swear to God Frodo Baggins had it easier.”

“All this waiting for better is making you bitter.”

“Honesty is overrated. That’s in the Bile. Old Testament.”

During casting, James’ used his influence to secure Romany Malco in the role of Zeke, the player. You may know Romany from 40 Year Old Virgin and Blades of Glory. Zeke is one of my favorite character’s in the book. The Player who falls in love get’s me every time. (Don’t ask why.)

As a writer, I am fascinated with the timeline and process of a book from idea to publication. I asked James to give me the rundown of Think Like a Man’s journey.

The book was published in January of 2009.
Producer tracked the success of the book.
The producer bought the movie rights to the book.
Screen Gem optioned it for a movie.
Writers were hired to determine how to craft a screenplay out of a book with no characters.
Studio liked the idea of the book becoming a living character in the movie that guided the actions of these characters.
The script is written and it is to long.
Comedy writer is hired to punch up the comedy.
Table read (hire actors to do it, but not necessarily the actors in the film). They are looking at timing and to see how the dialogue plays out. Where it gets a laugh or it just lies there.
Green Light the movie – where the money comes in.
Casting and scheduling
Pre-Production (8 weeks) – location, scouting, logistics
Production (33 days of filming)
Editing (3 months)
Mixing for sound and music
Test and screening – changes based on test
Lock Picture
Release (2012)
Marketing and Promotion

For a picture of this size and with this type of cast, once green light, the movie came about fairly quick. They must have done something right because the movie was a great success. The movie cost $12 million to make and grossed over $90 million in the domestic box office.

I had to ask James if he could tell me anything about the sequel. He was tight lipped, but he did let me know the entire cast will be back for the sequel and an addition of Wendi McLendon-Covery from Braidsmaid. Again, a choice championed by Mr. Lopez.

Look for more instant classic’s from James Lopez (I’ve know him since I was 10, how cool is that) in 2013 and 2014 such as Battle of the Year (release in September 2013), About Last Night (remake of the Rob Lowe/Demi Moore 80’s classic release in February 2014) and Think Like A Man 2 (release in June 2014).

Have you seen Think Like A Man? What did you think?

Thank Like a Man – Cast and Crew – NYTimes.com

The 5 Obstructions Blogathon – Obstruction 1

Published on June 13, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle10 Comments

Obstruction1

Silver Linings Playbook

Necessary disclaimer: This is harder then I thought, but it made me look at the movie from a different perspective. I guess that is the point. Here is my negative review of Silver Linings Playbook, a movie that I loved.

Typical when you have a film with such a great cast, the movie doesn’t have to do a lot to be considered good. The good cast can carry a not so good movie. When you have a good movie, the cast of characters can be a distractions.

That almost happened with Silver Linings Playbook. They created an amazing story with compelling, touching and sad, but hopeful characters with real life problems, but the choice of cast pulled you out again and again from what could have been a perfect movie.

Bradley Cooper played Pat, a guy who suffered from bi-polar. He was fixated on getting his life back after he returns from a stint in a mental institution. Bradley Cooper is gorgeous, sexy as hell, his voice has a melody to it. He can be the playboy, he can be the sweet sensitive type. He can be the hero, and the villain, but he doesn’t get anywhere near crazy. He never quite got there for me and it was hard to believe him in that role. He needed to go all the way and unfortunately, he feel a little short. He may have tried to act crazy, but he was still to attractive to be believable.

Jennifer Lawrence played Tiffany, a recent widow with her own issues of mental stability. I admit she had issues, but come on, real issues are choosing to replace your younger sister from competing in a ‘to the death’ survival game in order to return hope and morale to your home town. Now that girl had problems. I don’t mean to sound flip, but when I saw the movie, I keep thinking Katniss, you have enough to deal without taking on Tiffany’s problems.

Finally, you have Robert DeNiro as Pat’s father. Robert DeNiro is one of our all time greatest actors. He has stared in, carried and played so many characters. To see him relegated to such a supporting role was hard to see. DeNiro isn’t a small actor and this role needed subtle that a great actor like him couldn’t settle into. He stoled every scene an I don’t think he was supposed to.

Don’t get me wrong, some times a great movie needs great actors (see The Avengers), but for the tone of this movie, it would have benefits from letting the characters, and not the cast, speak for themselves.

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SQM-Silver Linings Playbook