W. (2008)

W.
Director: Oliver Stone
Starring: Josh Brolin, Richard Dreyfuss, James Cromwell, Elizabeth Banks, Toby Jones & Ellen Burstyn
Genre: Docudrama
Rated: PG-13
Tag line: Get Ready
Amazon Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
My Rating: 3 stars

Plot: The life of George W. Bush: from his "struggles" growing up and living his father's disproving shadow to his quagmire of a war in Iraq.

Review: It's no secret that former president and war-criminal George W. Bush had no business in politics. His eight-year term went from low approval ratings to high approval ratings to really low approval ratings. Nothing this man ever said amounted to anything other than horse crap. So why didn't I like this movie more? Because Oliver Stone is an opportunist. Knowing that Americans had enough of President Bush's antics, he set out to make a movie, released during an election year in order to remind people what we just went through, as if a reminder needed to be issued. I'm a far cry from being a Bush supporter - I was in high school, but I was stupid in high school (I live in Texas for kristsake) - but this movie was entirely unnecessary.

With that in mind Josh Brolin's portrayal of George W. Bush was more of a caricature of what the man was and is, which plays on our emotions because most of us wish we could undo the last eight years of our history. (On a side note, however, I should add how my girlfriend first thought the movie was a comedy rather than a drama, figuring it was just another spoof movie during an election year.) However, not all the acting was so bad. You have to give it up to Richard Dreyfuss's immortalizing of Dick Cheney - he really did hit on the button. Don't forget James Cromwell's George H. W. Bush, the ever disappointed father of his good-for-nothing son who cops out in the end in order to save face in the Bush name.

The movie was tailor made for a nation who is still mourning the lost of its power - meaning, the power to think for ourselves, as you can see we are very well stocked with war muscle. I suppose if it weren't for the fact that the movie was made too soon, it may have done a better job of recreating a historical blunder.

Religulous (2008)

Religulous
Director: Larry Charles
Starring: Bill Maher
Genre: Documentary
Rated: R
Tag line: Heaven help us.
Amazon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
My Rating: 5 stars

Plot: Writer, comedian and television talk show host Bill Maher travels across the country and the world to debunk the religion mythologies that has plagued the human race for far to long and release us from the shackles of our religious leaders.

Review: Bill Maher is making a call to arms: In order for the human race to continue, religion must die. Over the last few years, several writers and documentary makers have done the same, but no one has ever really taken the in depth look at the insanity that some people of faith hold. From a the brutality of Islam to the out of this world beliefs of the Church of Latter Day Saints to the brutal display of Jesus' final walk at a family friendly theme park, Maher covers it all.

One-to-one interviews, slices of religious propaganda, church services and so on make up the film that shows you the dark side of the "good life." We also reveal how people choose their leaders in the USA - not through skill, intelligence or anything that matters, but through what faith they have (one senator even goes out to say one doesn't have to pass an IQ test to be a senator). This movie comes at the right time, asking those of us too timid to express our true beliefs in nothing but humanity.

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Director: Peter Sollett
Starring: Michael Cera & Kat Dennings
Genre: Romantic Comedy/Teen
Rated: PG-13
Amazon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
My Rating: 5 stars

Plot: Nick is still feeling the pangs of lost as his ex-girlfriend, Tris, dumped him on his birthday. In a way to move on - or rather, hold on - to his feelings for her, Nick makes "mixed CDs" which Tris simply disposes of. Enter Norah, a college-bound student, daughter of a famous music producer, dispiser of Tris, who collects the discarded CDs and slowly falling in love with their compiler. Little do either of them know that their paths will cross during a concert of Nick's almost all gay band, The Jerk Offs. While Norah doesn't know that Nick is who is, she introduces him to Tris as her boyfriend. Nick's band mates see an opportunity to erase his mind of Tris through Norah. Music, searching for a drunken friend, heartache, falling in love and getting over old flames all ensure during one wild night of looking for the popular indie band, Where's Fluffy?

Review: Normally, these sort of movies repelled me. But with Michael Cera's success of hooking me into his characters, I gave this one a chance. I wasn't let down. I came in, never once picking up the YA novel in the past - now I'm just tempted. Michael Cera and Kat Dennings's chemistry just works, no doubt about it.

And unlike most movies that deal with the similar subject of boy-loses-girl-then-meets-new girl, this one never has a down point where you begin to wonder why you're watching it in the first place.

It's a must for all music lovers. The selection of the soundtrack is perfectly selected to match the tone of the movie with indie-esque sounding musicians. Hopefully more movies such as this, which will have its place in movie history as the theme is universal, will replace the typical teenage movie that has morphed into a fuckfest of getting laid and raging hormones.

The Wackness (2008)

The Wackness
Director: Jonathan Levine

Starring: Ben Kingsley, Josh Peck, Famke Janssen & Olivia Thirlby
Genre: Drama
Rated: R
Tag line: Sometimes it's right to do the wrong things.
Amazon rating: 4 out of 5 stars
My rating: 5 stars

Plot: It's the summer of 1994 in New York City and Luke Shapiro is a lonely teenager winding down his final summer before college by selling marijuana. He takes advice from his unorthodox therapist, whom he pays with marijuana, while falling in love with Dr. Squires's step-daughter.

Review: It's the sort of thing you never expect to see: A great actor like Ben Kingsley starring besides Josh Peck, of Drake & Josh fame. Skeptics beware, the movie isn't horrible. It's the complete opposite.

Both actors carry the movie. From beginning to end, you are fully aware that the movie is less about the drugs that they both use, and more about the loneliness of human nature. Both characters are grasping onto the fantasy of love, all the while losing grip on the reality of it. While Luke Shapiro falls head over heels for Stephanie, we see the downfall between Dr. Squires and his wife, Kristin.

Jonathan Levine wrote and directed a film so universal that its affect will stay with you for days to come. He knows exactly where to put a joke in order to lighten the mood, all the while never losing the effect of the emotions that go through us during the first and last time we tell someone we love them.

If there is one anthem of a summer, it is definitely found in The Wackness.