The Shortlist: Best Of 2017

It has been so long since I've posted on my blog, but I wanted to stick with tradition and continue my annual year-end list compiling my favorite things in entertainment from the past twelve months. Below I have listed my top three books, my top three movies, and my top ten songs that were published or released in 2017 (to allow for diversity I only chose one song per artist). Keep in mind that these are all personal favorites, and what is to be considered "the best" of the year is completely subjective. Please share your own favorite things from 2017 in the comment section, and enjoy my list!

BEST BOOKS OF 2017:

You Don't Know Me But I Know You
Rebecca Barrow

They Both Die At The End
Adam Silvera

The Night Bird
Brian Freeman

BEST MOVIES OF 2017:

Lady Bird
Greta Gerwig

Logan
James Mangold

What Happened To Monday
Tommy Wirkola

BEST SONGS OF 2017:

I Dare You
The xx

[listen]

Truth Is A Beautiful Thing
London Grammar

[listen]

Perfect Places
Lorde

[listen]

Run For Cover
The Killers

[listen]

This Isn't The Place
Nine Inch Nails

[listen]

Almost Had Me
Lights

[listen]

Planet Hunter
Wolf Alice

[listen]

The Sound Of War
Susanne Sundfør

[listen]

J-Boy
Phoenix

[listen]

Black Rain
Creeper

[listen]

Movie Review: What Happened To Monday

The science fiction thriller What Happened To Monday, starring Noomi Rapace, was recently released on Netflix. The trailer for this movie promises viewers an edgy, action-packed experience and I wanted to share my thoughts about it with all of you.
What Happened To Monday follows the story of seven sisters who are secretly living together in a world where only one child is allowed per family. Their father names them after each day of the week, and together they assume the identity of a single woman and take turns living her life on the day of their name. When Monday goes missing, the remaining six sisters set out to find her and must avoid compromising their true identities to the government.
After watching What Happened To Monday, my overall opinion about the film was pretty mixed. There were certainly elements about it that impressed me, perhaps most notably the acting on Noomi Rapace's part. I found it quite impressive how well she pulled off acting seven different characters on screen and gave them all unique personalities and traits that made them stand out as individuals. I also enjoyed the main plot of the film; how it told a different story that I haven't seen in many other movies. I was immediately drawn into the lives of the seven sisters and the fear that they had living in a world where they were targets.
Where What Happened To Monday missed the mark is with its use of unrealistic sequences throughout the storyline. Whether it was having characters get shot down while leaping off rooftops or dramatically fainting on stage, these scenes transported the film too far into the realm of unbelievable, rendering it nearly comical at times. There is also the issue of how this film rehashes extremely common plot points found in most movies. What Happened To Monday has a very creative storyline on the surface, but the insertion of predictable shootoffs turn it into a slightly modified version of a typical action flick.
To summarize my final thoughts on What Happened To Monday, it's an enjoyable film to watch and certainly was able to hold my attention for the entirety of its two hour run time. It does fall a bit flat in terms of delivering a truly unique storyline, but it is acted well enough to make it worth watching if you have the chance.
Rating: TV-MA

Genre: Action/Sci-Fi

Run Time: 123 minutes

Release Date: August 18, 2017

My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Book Review: The Night Bird

Brian Freeman's recently published thriller The Night Bird was quite riveting from the first page. I had been on the lookout for an engrossing mystery to read, and this novel certainly fulfilled my desire for a suspenseful story. As it is a newly released book, I wanted to share my thoughts and opinions in a review for anyone debating whether or not to read this book.
The Night Bird follows detective Frost Easton as he delves into the mysterious deaths of several women who have seemingly gone crazy immediately before they die. His investigation leads him to Frankie Stein, a psychiatrist who uses a controversial form of therapy to erase terrifying memories from the minds of her patients. As the so-called Night Bird continues to terrorize more victims, Frost and Frankie scramble to unearth more details surrounding the case and discover that many secrets lurk beneath the surface than they ever could have imagined.
Ultimately this book is very well executed. Freeman introduces diverse and complex characters in The Night Bird that make this novel stand out among the hoards of other crime thrillers and mysteries available to readers. By alternating the storyline between the determined detective Frost, stoic Frankie Stein, and cautiously romantic Lucy, a varied narrative is created. Another strong element to this book is how it is more than just a mystery. The addition of certain elements transforms it into a psychological thriller with appropriate doses of emotion for each character.
Where The Night Bird falls just slightly short of its potential is regarding its villain, the infamous Night Bird. The image that Freeman creates for this character almost passes from creepy to comical with the Night Bird's sing-song voice and smiling mask. This clown-like appearance makes the Night Bird harder to take seriously, and undermines the credibility and intelligence of the villain. Adding to this, the identity of the villain was slightly disappointing when revealed. I had expected a big twist ending and felt that how the book concluded was slightly restrained.
To conclude my review in a short statement, I would say that The Night Bird delivers a fast-paced story that will take a very short amount of time to read. It will sweep you along until the very end, where it unfortunately loses just a bit of its intensity. But despite having a few very minor faults, The Night Bird is a walloping novel with a unique and intriguing plot that I would highly recommend.
Author: Brian Freeman
Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Pages: 346

Year Published: 2017

My Rating: ★★★★☆

Molly's Music: Entry 5

I've been discovering a lot of great new songs lately from both mainstream and indie artists alike. As I occasionally have done in the past here on this blog, I wanted to share some of these tracks with all of you fellow music lovers out there. Give the tracks below a listen and let me know what you think! I would also love to hear what you've been listening to as well, so feel free to comment with your own favorites.

The Japanese House - Clean:
A recent artist that I had the pleasure of discovering is The Japanese House, the solo project of English musician Amber Bain. I've only just started listening to her music, but from the dreamy, electronic indie sound of "Clean" I'd certainly say she's one to watch.


Phoenix - J-Boy:
Although I will always associate the band Phoenix with the atmospheric, new wave sound of their hit "1901," their recent single "J-Boy" delivers an infectious injection of groovy energy. It's a bit different from their old style, but I'm really starting to appreciate their musical divergence.


Bishop Briggs - Hi-Lo (Hollow):
Another English musician to check out is Bishop Briggs. Completely by chance I stumbled on her 2017 single "Hi-Lo (Hollow)" and was blown away at the vocals that she delivers on this track. If you haven't heard it yet, it is absolutely worth a listen.


Lorde - Perfect Places:
Lorde's "Perfect Places" was a song that slowly grew on me over time. After my first listen I can't say it was a favorite, but something about this song's chorus is so incredibly catchy. Now I find myself listening to it quite a bit. I would say that so far it's my favorite single from Lorde's upcoming album Melodrama.


VÉRITÉ - Saint:
I've been a fan of solo artist VÉRITÉ for some time now, and she never fails to deliver when she releases a new song. This trend continued with "Saint," taken from her debut album that's due to be released on June 23. If you haven't heard of VÉRITÉ yet, then I'd recommend giving her songs a listen.

The Best YA Books that Tackle Heavy Topics

I read a fair share of young adult books and often find myself being drawn to the ones where the author addresses some pretty intense issues. The subject matter of these books can range from depression and other mental illnesses to school shootings, and although sometimes difficult to read I think that books like these can provide important insight when tactfully written. I have compiled a list in no particular order featuring some of my favorite books that achieve this. They all manage to shed light on a difficult topic while maintaining a certain level of sensitivity and humanness to the characters dealing with these burdens.

Jumping Off Swings
Jo Knowles

Although I read this book several years ago, Jumping Off Swings has managed to stay with me ever since. This novel deals with teen pregnancy and ultimately how it can have a huge affect on more than just one person. What Knowles does brilliantly here is tell the story from the perspective of four different teenagers, all dealing with their own lives and problems. It opens readers up to the fact that what looks like a personal issue can have a greater impact than is initially believed.

The Last Time We Say Goodbye
Cynthia Hand

The Last Time We Say Goodbye is a touching story of a young girl grappling with the recent suicide of her brother. This novel gives a refreshing perspective on the topic of suicide by putting readers in the shoes of someone deeply affected by its aftermath. Cynthia Hand does a superb job of illustrating the transformation of the main character as she slowly begins to embrace the healing process after a family tragedy.

Clean
Amy Reed

Amy Reed's young adult novel Clean dives into the topic of addiction, following a group of teenagers as they all undergo treatment at the same rehab center. Told from the point of view of multiple characters, the story shows how five seemingly disparate teens can find common ground and help each other to overcome their addictions.

If I Was Your Girl
Meredith Russo

If I Was Your Girl is a beautifully crafted story that follows a teenage girl as she tries to find a place for herself. Having been biologically born a boy, she moves to her father's small and largely religious town in the attempts to escape her troubled past and create a new identity as a female. This is a novel that goes beyond simply being a book with a transgender protagonist. Russo creates a very relatable main character that anyone can empathize with on her journey through adolescence.

The Way I Used To Be
Amber Smith

Amber Smith's debut novel The Way I Used To Be deftly addresses the topic of rape among young adult readers. The story follows the protagonist, Eden, through her high school years as she struggles to come to terms with a sexual assault from her brother's friend when she was younger. Smith illustrates the heartbraking inner turmoil of Eden as she attempts to navigate her life and find the strength to overcome the traumatic event from her past.

Movie Review: Gifted

The 2017 drama Gifted, directed by Marc Webb and starring Chris Evans and Mckenna Grace, promises audiences a heartwarming story of the bond between an uncle and his young niece. After watching this film a couple of nights ago, I have a lot of mixed feelings and want to share my thoughts and opinions on it.
Gifted is about a mathematically genius girl, Mary, who is living with Frank, both her uncle and guardian since Mary's mother committed suicide. Frank wants to raise Mary as normally as possible, choosing to send her to a public school instead of a private school specifically for gifted students. Wanting Mary to fully embrace and develop her abilities, Evelyn, who is Frank's mother and Mary's grandmother, shows up seeking custody of Mary. This results in a court case that threatens to tear Mary away from Frank and break their strong bond with each other.
Despite having a promising synopsis that intrigued me, I found Gifted to be a rather disappointing film. My biggest criticism is just how slow the pacing seemed. This movie is not very long, with a running time of just over an hour and a half, but somehow the plot seemed to drag. As the film progressed, the courtroom scenes especially were quite tedious and forgettable. I also was letdown by a lot of the relationships between some of the characters, specifically between Frank and Bonnie, Mary's teacher at school. Their interactions felt awkward, and the relationship between their characters felt like it didn't really belong in the film and was simply added to lend an extra element to the story. A third factor that didn't work for me was the cliched scenes of Mary "being brilliant." So many movies featuring an intelligent lead character include unnecessary scenes simply added to show just how smart the protagonist is, and Gifted completely falls into this trap. I understand the motivation behind wanting to show Mary's mathematical intellect, but it got old very quickly when I was reminded of it again and again throughout the film.
I can't say that Chris Evans' portrayal of Frank was particularly captivating, and although I enjoyed Octavia Spencer's character she probably had about five minutes of screen time. Truly the singular shining star of Gifted is Mckenna Grace, the actress who plays Mary. Even omitting her young age as a factor, she still managed to deliver a nuanced and believable performance that was a pleasure to watch.
My final stance on Gifted is that conceptually it was well thought out but the delivery fell very short of its potential. Because of this, the emotional connection to the characters that is needed to carry it as an engaging film is lost. If you are thinking about seeing Gifted, I would say that it is worth watching for Mckenna Grace's performance alone. However, as a whole this film is a mediocre blur that is likely to be forgotten as soon as viewers walk out of the theater.
Rating: PG-13

Genre: Drama

Run Time: 101 minutes

Release Date: April 7, 2017

My Rating: ★★☆☆☆

The Best Movie Soundtracks

Two things I love are watching movies and listening to music. So I guess it makes sense that I really love listening to motion picture soundtracks, and I really appreciate composers that understand how to convey the emotion of a film through the score. Lately I've been on a big soundtrack kick, listening to music from all kinds of movies. I decided to compile a short list of what I would consider to be some of the best soundtracks that I've heard. For the purposes of this list, I am looking at how much the music elevates the film overall. For example, I love the Inception soundtrack but I don't feel that it makes the movie significantly better. Inception is already an amazing film, regardless of the score. So here is my list, complete with a short blurb explaining what it is about each soundtrack that makes its respective film that much more of an experience.

Interstellar
Composer: Hans Zimmer

I love Hans Zimmer as a composer, but his soundtrack for Interstellar exceeded all my expectations. This film is already a solid motion picture, but the music turns it into a cinematic experience. Its soundtrack is essentially the pulse of Interstellar, deftly manipulating between emotional melodies and volcanic explosions of sound, punctuated by interludes that mimic the empty vastness of space. It is the composing abilities of Hans Zimmer that transform this film into something very special.

Requiem For A Dream
Composer: Clint Mansell

Requiem For A Dream gets a lot of hype surrounding its dark and disturbing nature, unflinchingly depicting the downward spiral of addiction. But what should really be highlighted about this film is the soundtrack. Clint Mansell does an incredible job, producing a score that seesaws between the highs and lows of the characters. The perpetual pattern between raving club music and the film's signature devastating melody creates a jarring sound that makes this film's disturbing visuals that much more intense.

It Follows
Composer: Disasterpeace

In my opinion It Follows is an incredibly underrated movie, and by far what I love about it most is the soundtrack. What makes this horror film so unnerving is the music. Disasterpeace somehow manages to capture every aspect of It Follows in the score, creating incredibly eerie acoustics complete with a distinct 80's vibe. To top it all off, the vehement volume of the soundtrack adds a lot to the disturbing feel of the film.

Ex Machina
Composers: Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow

Subtle is perhaps the best way to describe the soundtrack of Ex Machina. I honestly didn't pay much attention to the music the first time I viewed it, but after re-watching this film I was surprised by how much the score bolstered the plot. The composers create a steady, futuristic-sounding rhythm that becomes the backbone of Ex Machina. Both soothing and unnerving at the same time, this contradictory score is truly what brings this film to life.

Oblivion
Composer: M83

As a longtime fan of musician M83, I was very excited to go see Oblivion when it was released. Although this film wasn't anything spectacular in most aspects, the music was truly incredible. M83 made Oblivion into a far superior film than it actually was. There's an undeniable otherworldly feeling that the score evokes, which fits perfectly with the apocalyptic setting of Oblivion. All of the emotion that this film delivers is amplified by its soundtrack, and it's one that I can listen to time and time again.

TV Series Review: 13 Reasons Why

Netflix's newly released series 13 Reasons Why, based on the young adult novel by Jay Asher, is certainly getting its fair share of hype. Despite disliking the book when I read it several years ago, I decided to jump on the bandwagon and give the show a watch to see if it would deliver the galvanizing drama that it promised. Upon finishing the first season of 13 Reasons Why several days ago, I wanted to share all of my thoughts and opinions about it here on my blog.
13 Reasons Why introduces the character of Clay, a high school student who is grappling with the recent suicide of his co-worker and classmate Hannah Baker. One day, he finds a box of tapes sitting outside his front door. Upon listening to them, Clay realizes that Hannah recorded them right before her suicide, outlining thirteen reasons why she killed herself and the people directly involved. As the show progresses, it becomes clear that there is much more to Hannah's suicide than anyone initially realized.
What really caught my attention while watching 13 Reasons Why is how unabashed the creators were depicting the myriad intense topics that this show addresses. I really appreciate how nothing was censored simply because this show is based on a young adult novel. Time and time again, screenwriters tend to get scared when dealing with teenage issues on camera. The most gritty elements are glossed over or often completely omitted simply for the sake of having a safer rating. 13 Reasons Why clearly brakes away from this, with its TV-MA rating as its stamp of approval. Although my feelings on the acting in 13 Reasons Why are mixed, there are some standout performances. I especially want to give praise to Alisha Boe and Miles Heizer, who played Jessica and Alex respectively. Justin Prentice perhaps deserves the greatest credit for his very believable portrayal of Bryce. The fact that I found his character to be detestable is a credit to how well Prentice's acting is in this show. A final point I want to make in support of 13 Reasons Why is just how great its soundtrack is. I was introduced to several new songs, and the creators of the show did a praiseworthy job of supporting each episode with music that always seemed to fit perfectly with the events of the storyline.
I do have several critiques of 13 Reasons Why though, with two main issues at the forefront. The first is involving the casting choices of Hannah Baker and her mother. There was a disconnect between Katherine Langford and her portrayal of Hannah Baker; I never felt like she truly got into the skin of Hannah. Because of this I wasn't able to develop any sort of emotional connection to Hannah throughout the entirety of the show. I also disliked Kate Walsh's portrayal of Olivia Baker, Hannah's mother. It seemed at times like she was overacting her grief, rendering her character nearly unbelievable. The other negative element of 13 Reasons Why is its writing, particularly with the lead character Clay. I found him to be the most uninteresting character of the entire show, and this ultimately created a somewhat dull storyline at certain points. This may partly be a fault of the book, but regardless it was a facet of 13 Reasons Why that I took notice of.
In conclusion, Netflix's 13 Reasons Why is a show that is not afraid to shine a light on many of the issues that plague our society, especially among young adults. For this I will give it a standing ovation. It's the delivery where things are a bit lacking. Between the stale lead character of Clay and my apathy towards Hannah, this show is rendered into a teen drama that doesn't particularly stand out from the numerous other shows available. If you're still on the fence about watching it or not, I would recommend at least giving the pilot episode a try. Even if it doesn't become your favorite TV show of all time, 13 Reasons Why certainly does a solid job of delivering a drama-packed mystery that is great to binge-watch.
Rating: TV-MA

Genre: Drama/Mystery

Seasons/Episodes: 1/13

Release Date: March 31, 2017

My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Monthly Amusements: March 2017

March has been quite a good month in terms of finding entertainment that I enjoy. Between TV shows and movies to watch, music to listen to, and books to read I have managed to stumble on some pretty great finds. As always, the following items do not have to be released or published in March 2017. As long as I discovered them sometime in the past month, they can be included on this list. So here is my final rundown of my favorite things from the world of entertainment in March 2017.

Movie: Inception

Go ahead, criticize me all you want for not seeing Inception sooner. This has just been one of those movies that I had been meaning to watch for literally years, but only got around to viewing it a few weeks ago. Between the brilliant directing of Christopher Nolan, the brilliant composing of Hans Zimmer, and the fact that this is my brother's all-time favorite movie, I know I should have seen it waayyy sooner. But the bottom line is that I did finally watch Inception, and it far exceeded my expectations. A lot of people are scared off by the complexity of this film, but that's exactly what makes Inception so good. Seven years since its release, this movie still outperforms most motion pictures in terms of its originality, directing, soundtrack, acting, and just about every other aspect.
My Rating: ★★★★★

TV Show: The Fall

My feelings about the British crime drama The Fall are extremely mixed, to say the least. This TV show is riveting in a way that I can't really explain. There's a lot about this series that I don't like: it features a very slow-moving plot and an array of odd and unlikable main characters, although the actors all do a stand-up job of portraying their respective parts. But where this show does deliver is with its dark, eerie atmospheric quality. I found myself quite inexplicably drawn to this show, and despite its faults The Fall made for a captivating show to watch.
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Book: A Man Called Ove

I recently read and wrote a review (read it here) for Fredrik Backman's novel A Man Called Ove. It ended up being my favorite book that I read this month, despite having a few minor faults that I further elaborate on in my review. I ultimately concluded that this book offers quite a lot though, featuring both an original story and a great protagonist. If you haven't read it already, I would definitely recommend checking it out.
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Music: Interstellar Soundtrack

Really all I can say about the soundtrack to the motion picture Interstellar is to stop what you're doing and go listen to it right now. I mentioned above how much I love Hans Zimmer as a composer, and his brilliance is glaringly apparent on the Interstellar soundtrack. The music forms such an integral part of the film, but is also just as powerful when listened to on its own. I particularly love the tracks S.T.A.Y and Mountains, the latter of which displays an incredible example of how to build intensity in music. Whether you've seen Interstellar or not, this soundtrack is certainly one you don't want to miss out on.
My Rating: ★★★★★

Book Review: A Man Called Ove

The most recent book that I've read is the humorous and heartwarming A Man Called Ove, written by Swedish author Fredrik Backman. This was a novel that I was requested to write a review for, so I had absolutely no idea what it would be about when I started in on chapter one. I can say that overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed A Man Called Ove. Despite containing a few cracks in its foundation, this book has plenty of substance and uniqueness to make itself stand out in a plethora of published literature.
This novel introduces the character of Ove, a grumpy old man who is very much set in his ways and is not afraid to be judgmental of those that think differently than him. One day a young couple moves in to Ove's neighborhood, knocking down his mailbox in the process. This event begins a new course of events, one that reveals Ove's true character and shows that there's more to him than meets the eye.
While reading A Man Called Ove, I felt that all of its positive and negative elements were about evenly balanced. My first impression was how well written this novel is, with extremely clever choices in words used by the author. The plot unfolds in a descriptive flourish that is not overdone. Adding to this is the humor that really makes A Man Called Ove shine. This is the first novel that I've read in a long time that uses humor so deftly. Backman seamlessly manages to blend comedy with the grumpiness and mildly depressive life of Ove into a combination that works perfectly. Another component that makes this book stand out is how well-developed the main character is. Ove becomes more complex from page to page, making readers that much more invested in his story. One final high point of A Man Called Ove that I want to give mention to is its ending. The author manages to wrap everything up into a conclusion that works amazingly with the rest of the story. Blending heartache and humor, the final pages of this novel balance out many different emotions superlatively.
Getting into what I didn't enjoy about A Man Called Ove, I first want to address the difficulty of following along with the characters. The story is told from Ove's point of view, and throughout a large portion of the book he doesn't refer to other people by name. Instead he gives them somewhat humiliating nicknames (The Lanky One, Blond Weed, Pregnant Foreign Woman, etc.). Although this aspect of the storytelling does lend a lot of added humor to the book, it also makes it somewhat confusing to follow along with who Ove is referring to. A second critique I have is the lack of emotional investment I had towards the characters in A Man Called Ove. Although I appreciated how well-developed Ove was and loved the juxtaposition that the comical secondary characters added to balance Ove's roughness, I didn't have any deep connection to any of them. To put it simply, I didn't really care what happened to the characters. I was simply intrigued by what was happening and wanted to see the outcome of the plot. The last slightly negative aspect of this novel is the flashbacks on Ove's life. These chapters, although necessary to understand Ove as a character, were simply not quite as entertaining to read as the chapters happening in the present time. I found myself glossing over the portions of A Man Called Ove that describe his life as a child and young man, looking forward to the switch back to Ove's comedic struggles with his eccentric mix of neighbors.
Ultimately A Man Called Ove is a breath of fresh air in terms of uniqueness. I truly haven't read a book like this before, and for that reason alone I would recommend picking it up for a read if you get the opportunity. There are a few shortcomings, but overall Fredrik Backman delivers a heartwarming tale about a bitter man, continuously perturbed by his neighbors, who magically transforms into a lovable protagonist as the story unfolds.
Author: Fredrik Backman
Genre: Comedy, Drama

Pages: 337

Year Published: 2014

My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Movie Review: Like Crazy

If you are in the mood for a very real love story that's not afraid to sugarcoat romance, then look no further than Like Crazy. Starring Felicity Jones and Anton Yelchin, this film tells the story of Anna and Jacob, two star-crossed lovers both going to college in Los Angeles. Anna is an exchange student from the United Kingdom and must return home once she graduates. Instead she opts to remain in the United States with Jacob, thus violating her visa. After taking a quick trip home to visit her family, Anna is detained while trying to return to the United States. Now separated by thousands of miles, Anna and Jacob attempt to navigate the troubled waters of an extremely fervent long distance relationship.
Where Like Crazy hits the nail on the head is its deftness with visuals. The editing is truly brilliant here. I found myself on many occasions completely understanding and feeling the emotion of a scene with absolutely no dialogue. To accompany the impressive visuals is a perfect score for this film. The music does a great job of setting the appropriate mood for each scene and acts as an auditory translation of what each character is going through. Speaking of the characters, the acting is another high point of Like Crazy. The two main characters of Anna and Jacob were perfectly cast, and I was also impressed with Jennifer Lawrence's performance. The final positive note I want to make is that this film is a truly unique love story, one that many filmmakers are scared to attempt. It's real; Like Crazy doesn't flinch away from the scary and heartbreaking realities of any relationship.
So by now you're probably wondering why I only gave this film three stars. Part of the reason is simply how vapid the plot is. This is a great film visually, but there's not much substance to it. Two people fall in love, get separated from each other, and form lives apart while continuing to make their relationship work. There's just not much else going on here. The other big problem at hand is just how irritating the two lead characters are. Yes, they're perfectly acted, but it's how they're written where things go wrong. At the begining of the film Anna and Jacob are head-over-heels in love, which is a delight to witness on screen. As time progresses however, they struggle to continue their relationship. They form side romances, but refuse to reciprocate any deep feelings for these new people they've let into their lives. The relationship between Jacob and Samantha is particularly frustrating to watch unfurl. One can't help but feel awful for Samantha as she gets dragged through the mud, again and again, because Jacob can't bring himself to commit to her. Toward the end of Like Crazy it basically becomes the story of two people trying to rekindle a stagnant relationship, even though they seem much happier apart.
So, to conclude this movie review I will say that Like Crazy is a solid film. It misses the mark on a few important aspects, but I think that it's many positive elements do a good job of redeeming it. I would recommend giving it a watch if you get the chance. If you can get past the lack of substance in the plot and lead characters you sometimes want to yell at, I think that it's a gem of a romance movie and one that deserves more attention.
Rating: PG-13

Genre: Romance, Drama

Run Time: 90 minutes

Release Date: October 28, 2011

My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Movie Review: Lion

Lion, the feature debut from director Garth Davis, is a film that I had been wanting to watch for quite some time and only recently did I finally get the chance to. Between its moving plot, stellar cast and Oscar hype, I was expecting a walloping good movie. I can't say that Lion completely lived up to every single one of my expectations, but it did deliver on many of the aspects that I was hoping it would.
Lion follows the life of Saroo, a young boy living in India with his older brother, younger sister and mother. They are poor but happy, and Saroo looks up to his older brother and wants to do everything that he does. One day, Saroo loses track of his brother and wanders onto a decommissioned train while looking for him. The train begins to move, and before he knows it Saroo is lost in a foreign Indian city completely isolated from everything that he is familiar with. Later on, the movie jumps ahead to Saroo when he is a young adult, having been adopted by an Australian couple. He begins to feel that something is missing in his life, and starts being plagued by memories of his childhood. He decides to use Google Earth to track down his old village and connect with his past.
This film certainly delivers an original, moving story that is quick to enthrall audiences. The first half of the movie that follows Saroo as a young boy in India was especially riveting. Sunny Pawar absolutely shines and is the true standout here. The rest of the cast also had great performances for their respective characters, and I really connected with their emotions surrounding the plot. I also want to point out just how good a job this film did in portraying Indian culture. The first half of the movie is entirely in subtitles, but this had absolutely no negative impact on the experience of watching Lion. If anything, I think it helped add an element of genuineness to the story. This aspect, along with the unfiltered visuals of Indian streetchildren, massive throngs of train commuters, Saroo and his family laboriously collecting rocks, all made this film seem real and captured the life of an Indian boy's experiences through his eyes.
Now I'll move on to what did not work for me with Lion. Although the first part of the film was extremely well done, towards the middle it began to lose me. When the storyline jumps to Saroo as an adult, the plot just begins to grind to a halt. What partly caused this was the complete unraveling of Saroo as he becomes overcome with the memories of his childhood. He essentially goes mad, becoming consumed with finding his childhood home. It gets to a point where his reaction becomes unbelievable; I understand why he wants to discover his past, but he goes so far as to quit his job, disown his brother, and completely cut off his parents and girlfriend. I just felt that his reaction was unwarranted for the situation he was in.
The bottom line here is that Lion is a solid motion picture that I was overall pretty satisfied with. It left a few things to be desired, but I can see why it was nominated for Best Picture for the 2016 Academy Awards. Despite the few problems that I did have with this film, I would recommend giving Lion a watch if you get the chance.
Rating: PG-13

Genre: Drama

Run Time: 120 minutes

Release Date: November 25, 2016

My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Monthly Amusements: January 2017

As the first month of 2017 comes to a close, I wanted to take a quick look back at some of the things in the entertainment world that I enjoyed in January. Overall, this month pleasantly surprised me considering that January is typically a lackluster month for entertainment. Just a quick note, the items on my list do not have to be released in January 2017. They are simply things that I've happened to stumble upon for the first time in this particular month. So with that being said, here are the things that I've enjoyed most in January 2017.

Movie: Sing Street

Sing Street was a film that thoroughly took me by surprise. I had no expectations for this movie, but it delivered a heartwarming story about an Irish teen who starts a band to win over the girl of his dreams. I actually did a full review for this film (read it here) where I go into more detail, but the bottom line is that Sing Street was by far the best film that I had the pleasure of watching this month.
My Rating: ★★★★★

TV Show: Last Tango In Halifax

The BBC dramedy Last Tango In Halifax wound up being my favorite TV show for the month of January 2017. I will be the first to admit that this show goes more than a little overboard on the family drama, rendering its plot apocryphal and characters measurably unrelatable. However, because of this it became my guilty pleasure and I quickly blew through all three seasons of Last Tango In Halifax. It's certainly not the best show to ever be made but it delivers on creating an enticing, albeit over-the-top plot that is hard to stop watching.
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Book: Invincible

Invincible, Amy Reed's saga about a teenager dealing with cancer, was my favorite read of this month. I found this story to be incredibly raw and honest, giving a touching portrayal of a girl struggling to find herself in a world where she is known as "the cancer girl." Feeling suffocated, she runs away from her old friends and family into the arms of Marcus, the only person who really understands her. I loved just about everything that this book delivered and I am looking forward to reading Unforgivable, Reed's followup novel to Invincible. I would definitively recommend this read and it's my favorite book from this month.
My Rating: ★★★★☆

Music: Double Dare

Double Dare, the debut album by the pop punk band Waterparks, has had a prominent presence on my playlist this month. It delivered some great tunes that just got stuck in my head, such as Royal and Gloom Boys. A few of the songs did miss the mark for me personally, but overall it was a great album to rev myself up with at the start of the new year.
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Book Review: Tonight The Streets Are Ours

A while ago I read This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales and quite liked it. I wanted to give some of her other books a try, so I picked up Tonight The Streets Are Ours from my local library. Unfortunately I was somewhat letdown by this book, and wanted to share my reasoning as to why it missed the mark.
To give a quick synopsis, Tonight The Streets Are Ours is about a girl called Arden who considers herself "recklessly loyal." She has always made sacrifices for others, often to the point of undermining herself. One day she stumbles upon an online blog called Tonight The Streets Are Ours, written by a teenage boy living in New York City called Peter. Through his blog, Peter expresses many emotions that resonate closely with Arden. She realizes that she has to meet him, and so embarks on a crazy road trip to the city on a quest to find him.
My main issue with this book is that it has absolutely no idea what it wants to be. There's a confusing smorgasbord of parental woes, friendship strains, and romance that frankly made my head hurt at times. Each individual aspect of this book has potential, but when all of the pieces are mashed together into an attempt at a cohesive story, things fall apart. To make things worse, the already convoluted plot is carried by characters that I found to be rather unlikable. The main character of Arden was annoyingly spineless, and things only got worse when Peter was introduced into the story. I found him to be obsessively egotistical and because of this I really couldn't connect with his character at all.
My one high praise for Tonight The Streets Are Ours is that it carries two very true messages: that there is always more than one side to every story, and that the best way to help others is to help yourself first. The author did a great job of delivering both of these concepts in this book, but unfortunately their potential influence on readers was muddled by the rest of the plot.
To rap up this review, I will simply say that Tonight The Streets Are Ours just has too many elements going on at once. This is its Achilles heel; what potential this book did have is almost entirely lost in the absurdity of the plot. Tonight The Streets Are Ours is readable, but is certainly not memorable. However, this should not be reason to avoid all of Leila Sales' books, as I can attest that some of her other projects such as This Song Will Save Your Life are wonderfully executed. Perhaps just think about bypassing Tonight The Streets Are Ours though, and invest your time in a more worthwhile read.
Author: Leila Sales
Genre: Drama/Romance/Teen Fiction

Pages: 342

Year Published: 2015

My Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Movie Review: Sing Street

Sing Street is a delightful film that I hadn't even heard of until very recently. It seemed to completely slip under just about everyone's radar despite the fact that it is easily accessible to many viewers on Netflix. It's easy to say that Sing Street is one of the most surprising movies that I've seen recently. I had few expectations at the movie's start, but it was quick to impress as the plot unfolded.
Sing Street is set in 1980's Ireland during the burgeoning era of pop music and music videos. Conor, a teenager living in Dublin with his family, is transferred to a less expensive school by his parents. He struggles with his new environment and the mistreatment that he faces there from bullies and his new principle. One day, he sees a girl standing across the street from the school and is immediately captivated by her. In order to get her attention, Conor asks her to appear in a music video for his band and she agrees. With the help of several other misfits from his school, Conor assembles a band in the hopes of winning the affection of his new crush.
Sing Street is a deftly executed motion picture that immediately captures the hearts of viewers. It dives so much deeper than its romantic plot as Conor comes to terms with his parents divorce, finds his strength to be his true self and defy his oppressors, and builds the courage to follow his dreams. It's Conor's relationship with his older brother that especially makes this movie shine. These elements combined help transport Sing Street beyond the story of a clichéd romance into a nuanced film that is very relatable among viewers. The characters add even more to this movie, providing a variety of different personalities on screen. Every actor does a stellar job at portraying their role at a perfect volume so to speak, with the whole film relying on the relationships between characters rather than on the shoulders of a single protagonist. I also want to give note to the great soundtrack that Sing Street offers. The score provides a great mix of upbeat pop tracks and melodic ballads that really complete this film. Although Sing Street is a musical, it's done in a way where the soundtrack doesn't completely dilute the plot. Instead, the music perfectly complements the storyline as it unfolds and it provides Sing Street with a bittersweet feeling as the film ends.
In conclusion, Sing Street is a humble film that is made great by interesting characters, a finely woven plot with varying elements that work together well, and a soundtrack that provides the cherry on top. I racked my brain trying to come up with negative aspects of this film, but Sing Street provides a seemingly flawless coming-of-age narrative that is quick to captivate and hard to forget.
Rating: PG-13

Genre: Drama/Musical

Run Time: 106 minutes

Release Date: April 15, 2016

My Rating: ★★★★★