Let me start by saying that I read this book, and I loved it.  It was funny and smart, and kept you interested.   I was so looking forward to seeing this movie (especially since I had heard from friends that it was good!).

But Lord Almighty, I hated Confessions of a Shopoholic.  I hated it SO much.  I go and see these kinds of movies for a good laugh, a break from the realities of everyday life.  I found this movie so stupid – it was insulting.  I can only compare this to The Devil Wears Prada, and I loved that movie.  In TDWP, the clothes were fun to watch, the writing was smart and original.  In Shopoholic the clothes were bright – sure – but ugly as all hell. I mean look at the coat above.  How many muppets were killed in the making of that horrible coat!

The writing was so desperate.  I swear I’ve heard half the lines in this movie about a dozen times in other – better movies. And there was absolutely ZERO chemistry between Isla Fisher and Hugh Dancy.  The final scene of the movie is them kissing, and it’s just awkward to watch.  They obviously had no chemistry, and it was uncomfortable to look at. I love both of them, and they’re capable of SO much more.  I want to believe that the movie isn’t terrible because of them.  It’s not their fault the whole movie is a train wreck.

It was so full of cliche’s – and not even good cliche’s.  The talking mannequins were beyond stupid.  I can’t believe that Isla Fisher made this terrible movie. When the first mannequin talked in the beginning movie, I should have gotten up and gotten my money back.  The movie went from bad to worse at that point.

I feel like I should reimburse my sister and my cousin, because I picked the movie.  My sister, who only gets out to the movies about twice a year, was hating me when the credits rolled.  Before we had even left our seats, all three of us were going off on how terrible the movie was.  I hate it when I pay $9.00 (plus popcorn) for a crappy movie!

I now turn to USA Today, who puts this movie into words better than I could.

Confessions of a Shopaholic is like a sale item that catches your eye simply because of its garish color, atrocious style and startling uselessness.

Not only is it an unfunny movie shrilly told, it probably is the most ill-timed and appallingly insulting movie in recent memory.

How could any studio be so out of touch as to release a movie glorifying the compulsive shopping habits of an air-headed spendthrift during this dismal state in the global economy?

Besides its insensitivity, it bombards us, like a too-cluttered closet, with a clueless heroine, laugh-repellant slapstick shtick and an unconvincing by-the-numbers romance.

Where The Devil Wears Prada, with its flurry of couture, might have filled fashionistas with longing, Shopaholic makes you want to renounce every item in your wardrobe. Perhaps it is actually director P.J. Hogan’s subversively clever ploy to make spending look revolting and turn even the most die-hard shoppers into ascetics.

This brainless chick flick reinforces the worst female stereotypes. Trying to disguise itself as a cautionary tale on the perils of conspicuous consumption, it fixates so much on materialistic cravings that it ends up doing just the opposite.

Bottom Line: Save your money, and go rent The Devil Wears Prada.  It’s much better, and cheaper!  If you go see Shopoholic, don’t say I didn’t warn ya!

I had the pleasure of seeing Slumdog Millionaire yesterday, and the movie still leaves me speechless.

The story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India’s “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show’s questions. Each chapter of Jamal’s increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show’s seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out. At the heart of its storytelling lies the question of how anyone comes to know the things they know about life and love.

I didn’t know what to expect with this movie, I didn’t have a clue what it was about.  I was a bit taken aback at the violence, I wasn’t expecting it!  With that said, I absolutely loved it.  I loved all of the characters, each moving and complex.  Come the end of the movie, you’re on the edge of your seat – wondering will he win the money!?

It’s a great movie, and I suspect it will do well at the Oscars like it did at the Globes.

PS: The soundtrack was amazing!

Jocelyn

WOW.  Bottom line, if you haven’t seen The Wrestler, then drop everything – and go see it.

It is absolutely AMAZING.  Mickey Rourke is heartbreakingly good as The Ram.  Everytime he’s on the screen, you just melt.  He can say everything with just the expression on his face.  If he doesn’t win the Oscar for Best Actor – I will lose all faith in the industry!

Marisa Tomei was brilliant, Evan Rachel Wood was even better.  The whole cast did so great.  I can’t believe that Darren Aronofsky wasn’t nominated, that’s such a shame.

It was dark – and depressing – and unbelievably moving.  The ending….just leaves you speechless.

It is without a doubt my favorite movie going into the Oscars… I hope it wins everything – it definitely deserves it.

I went and saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button over the weekend, and I have to say I absolutely LOVED it.  It’s almost 3 hours (like Australia) and I couldn’t even tell.

I thought the whole movie was amazing.  The special affects are spectacular.  How they did half the things they did in this movie, is beyond me.  How they made Brad Pitt look 80 years old AND a teenager, I’ll never know. I loved how the story unfolded with Julia Ormond and Cate Blanchett.  And man, is there anything Cate Blanchett does poorly?  She was exquisite in this movie. Absolutely stunning!

You get sucked into this movie immediately, and the story is so beautiful.  The relationships between Benjamin and his father, mother and his friend the captain – are each wonderfully told, and amazing to watch.

I think David Fincher did such a fantastic job with this movie.  I loved every single minute of it, and it will easily go down as one of my favorite movies of 2008.

And we cannot talk about this movie without talking about how absolutely GORGEOUS Brad Pitt is when he hits his “prime” in the movie.  I don’t think Brad Pitt has ever looked better.  It is worth paying the $10 to see him look so beautiful.  Man – oh – man… he’s so hot.

Benjamin Button is up for many Golden Globes – including Best Picture & Best Actor.  It definitely deserves to win!!

Go see it!

but I did!!

I went and saw Marley & Me last night with the girls, and I cried like a two year old.

I was very skeptical about seeing it, it wasn’t on my top 5 list of movies to see.  While I love Jennifer Aniston, let’s face it – her movies generally suck.  I was very disappointed with The Break Up, Rumor Has It, Derailed & Along Came Polly.  The only exception to this is Friends With Money, but she had a supporting role in that movie.  Then, I had a friend tell me that the best actor in the movie was the dog, and so I thought – great – another crappy Jennifer Aniston movie.

But almost immediately I fell in love with this movie.  I instantly connected with Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson – and the story just evolved beautifully.  Unfortunately, I didn’t read the book (something I’m probably going to have to correct here soon) so I wasn’t aware of the ending.  The girl sitting next to us pulled out a wad of tissues before the movie even started, and said “I’ve got my crying tissues!”.  So I knew it was coming.

We hit the same girl up for those very tissues at the end of the movie.  The ending is just so emotional – and moving.  I cried and cried and cried… and had to do a makeup check after the movie was over.

Basically what I’m saying is I loved the movie.  It really was a great film.  Owen Wilson did amazing, Jennifer Aniston was suprisingly good, and the dog just steals the show.

At PG – it’s a film for the whole family, though the ending is pretty intense.

A must see, if you ask me!

Jocelyn

I finally saw a grown up movie!

My girlfriend Lisa and I went last night and saw Australia.  We weren’t sure we could make it through a nearly 3 hour movie at 9:30 last night (we’re old, remember?) but we hit Starbucks, and went for it. And I am so glad we did.  I loved Australia so much more than I thought I would.  Even as the movie started, I wasn’t sure if it was something I would like.  It was very Baz Luhrmann, and so some of it seemed really cheesy to me.  But as the movie went on, I just fell more and more in love with it – and the story.

And then you get sucked into the movie, the characters and love story.  Wow!  Baz definitely hit it out of the ballpark with this one.  I loved it so much.  I love a good cry, and let me tell you – there are several good cries in this movie.  It is the most beautiful story – and beautiful movie to watch.  I don’t think the movie would be as good at home – I think you should see it in a theater to really appreciate the beautiful cinematography.

Let’s just say that Hugh Jackman is one sexy beast.  Dang, he was hot in this movie!! Nicole Kidman usually annoys me, but – wow, she was really amazing in this movie.  You could tell this movie was a labor of love for everyone involved.  The star of the movie had to be thirteen year old Brandon Walters.  He played the young Aboriginal boy.  Every time he says “I’ll sing you to me” there were tears all around.

I love me an epic movie.  I have always loved the classic love/war story.  I think this movie accomplished what Pearl Harbor could not.  When the movie was over, Lisa and I couldn’t get over how amazing it was.  It’s such a good feeling to pay for a movie ($9.50!) and actually have it be worth it.  It was worth the 1:00am bed time.  I’m a bit tired this morning, but I’m so glad I saw the movie.  It was unbelievable.

I’ve heard some people say the movie is too long, but honestly, I can’t imagine a thing they could take out! I feel like it was all necessary!  And I loved every minute, so I’d hate to see anything cut.

Bottom line – I loved it!  I think you should see it quickly – it may be on it’s way out of theaters as we speak!

Jocelyn

So as I was saying earlier, Portland had some pretty nasty weather the last couple weeks. I’ve been couped up in the house forever!  Finally over Christmas the snow started to melt, and I was able to get out with the kids.  We went and saw Bedtime Stories with Adam Sandler on Friday.  I thought it was a really cute kids movie. I love Keri Russell, and while I’m not a huge Adam Sandler fan, I actually thought he was pretty good in this movie.

PS: For those of you that saw it, can you believe Courteney Cox’s face?  Man, time to lay off the botox!  Pretty soon she’s going to look like Lisa Rinna!

Note to celeb women: Aging gracefully and naturally is so much more beautiful than tampering with your face! Say no to Botox!

Anyway, back to my point.  Did any of you lucky folk go see a grown up movie this week?  I’m dying to see Benjamin Button and Marley & Me (even though I heard that the dog is the best actor in the movie). What’s your opinion?  Which one should I see this week?

My girlfriends and I are going to try and get out to see Australia soon…I’ve wanted to see it forever, but we’ve all been so busy…