christophaskell

If you have not heard of this film, it follows two Sudanese refugees from a refugee camp in Africa to America, where they convince themselves they will find success and riches. Life is harder than expected in the states, and this film beautifully captures the frustration felt when things are not going right. The lives are captured so well many moments seem scripted because they're so perfect. Whether it be on the job, at school, or the time in between, the two boys, Peter and Santino, are very honest with the filmmakers, and make some very thought-provoking comments about life in the states. It's one of the only documentaries I can recall that, when it ended, I wanted it to go on for another two hours. It might be difficult to find this movie cause it didn't get great distribution, but check your local "art house" or independent theater and give this one a go (side note, if you're reading this when it's already on video then definitely it's worth a rent). Rating: 28/40

In order to appreciate ‘True Stories', I think you have to first appreciate the insanity of David Byrne. He was arguably the smartest, most inventive artist of his time, but a lot of what he did was misunderstood. Case in point, a lot of people found this movie to be boring, or unsuccessful in being a mockumentary, or being something other than it intended on. On the contrary, I believe ‘True Stories' was spot on with its intentions, and David Byrne made exactly the movie he wanted to. Much like Andy Kaufman, he enjoyed creating art that amused him, not caring whether other people were amused. Watch him as he goes from story to story in this small town, never judging who he's talking to, only listening with a smile and a nod. Soaking up every chance he gets to be around these quirky characters, which were, by the way, all based off of real people Byrne had read about previously. Perhaps the best thing to do would be to watch ‘Stop Making Sense', see if you enjoy that, and if you do than go out and rent ‘True Stories', because if you liked the former you will most likely eat up the latter on a silver platter. Rating: 27/40

Love, as a word, contains a hundred different meanings. Loving someone covers many situations, depending on the context it's used in and your relationship with that person. Even though certain love might be hard to understand, and even harder to express, Christmas generally is the one time a year where you're allowed to make said expressions, where you're allowed to say how you really feel. Especially in the world Richard Curtis creates in ‘Love Actually'. By using the trendy technique of telling a billion stories at once and having their interdependence gradually revealed, he has crafted perhaps the greatest romantic comedy of this young millennium. With ‘Love Actually' Curtis raises the bar at what we're allowed to laugh at (by showing us what would have previously been considered too risqué), challenges us to keep our eyes open for love (it might be in the place you least expect it), and most importantly challenges the studio system by redefining the romantic comedy market (up until now being monopolized by teens or young twenty-somethings). My hope is that everybody gets to see this movie: it has a wide release over here in the states and it's currently on at least two screens in all those big multiplexes. If you have loved on any level, from a friend to a spouse to your young child, you will find someone to relate to herein. And in a wonderful surprise, someone finally separates the genres ‘romantic comedy' and ‘chick flick', Curtis making a film that's just as side-splittingly funny as it is saccharin and romantic. Cancel plans if you must, but make sure you get out and support this movie in the theaters. If you're reading this after the movie has left the theaters then make sure you go rent it soon, you'll be very happy you did. Rating: 32/40