I absolutely loved The Light of the Moon. It has everything you want in a raw, dramatic film. It tells the story of Bonnie and her live-in boyfriend Matt. Both are successful young adults with booming careers. Walking home from a night out with friends, Bonnie is raped near their apartment. The rest of the film deals with all of the aftermath, including the physical and emotional pain for Bonnie and Matt together. Bonnie wants to pretend it never happened, going so far as to not even telling her mother about the episode. Matt tiptoes around her, doing these he never used to like cooking and cleaning, and even this leads to a fight because Bonnie wants everything to be normal (Matt replies, “I’m not sure that will ever be possible again”). The films holds nothing back, and we see all of the things a victim of sexual assault may face, such as victim shaming, guilt, the toll on her personal relationships, etc. As a viewer, we want nothing more than for Bonnie and Matt, a couple so obviously in love with each other, to find peace, though that might not be possible after such an impossible event. A heart-wrenching film, sensitive yet real, superbly written with award-worthy acting. One of the best films I’ve seen in awhile.
Lucky is a sad and fulfilling movie at the same time. Sad, because of its material and how it inevitably connects to the lead actor, but fulfilling because of how awesome it still is. The movie is about Lucky, an old man and an atheist who, despite being in excellent health, is very much aware of his impending death. He goes about his days in a quiet western town, known by all in the community. Despite his gruff attitude, he seems to be well-liked by everyone he comes across. A quiet film, there is no major plot, other than Lucky trying to find meaning when he’s never seemed to need it before. Lucky is portrayed by the great Harry Dean Stanton, in one of his last roles before dying in September of last year at the age of 91. A wonderful movie and a great send off for one of the best.
Rebel in the Rye is a biographical film about the life of author J.D. Salinger, a hero or nemesis to many a high schooler. The real Salinger was a fascinating person, unfortunately the same cannot be said of this film. While it is well acted by Nicholas Hoult in the lead, it is a pretty boring movie. It tells much of his story from college through the publication of The Catcher in the Rye and Salinger’s meteoric rise to fame, detailing his struggles both personal and professional, but there is none of the fire that the real life man seemed to exude. Ultimately it falls into the same trap which many biopics do, in that the story is told with knowledge of the facts but none of the heart behind them.
I’m genuinely confused by Brad’s Status, probably more so than he is at the end of the film. Portrayed by Ben Stiller, Brad is a man with a lot of issues. While taking his seventeen-year-old son on a series of college visits, he compares his middle-class life to those of his own college friends, all of whom ended up much more successful in life than he did. He plays out scenarios of their rich-and-famous lifestyles in his head and looks down on his wife and his job. The problem is, his life is not bad by any stretch, something those around him, and us as viewers, realize immediately, which just makes Brad seem like a big tool. Despite this, the movie tries to make us like him. While this movie does have its moments, as a whole the characters just aren’t likable enough to root for. Worth a single viewing, but ultimately forgettable.
Thank You for Your Service is a sobering film, a look at the trials facing our soldiers returning home from war. It follows three men coming home from Iraq, Adam (Miles Teller), Aieti (Beulah Koale), and Billy (Joe Cole). All are suffering from PTSD in various ways. On the surface, Adam seems to be holding it together better than his two friends, but only because as their sergeant, he’s made a habit of putting on a brave face for his team. The film shows what I think is a very truthful look at everything our men and women face, from the war itself, to the red tape in getting help from Veterans Affairs when they come back, to the sense of hopelessness they feel in ever feeling normal again. Teller and Koale in particular are mesmerizing. My only fault in the film is it plays it safe at times and could really challenge the viewer if it wanted to, but all in all, a very well done film.
Jons Movie Takes 