Love is Strange (2014)

Directed by Ira Sachs
Written by Ira Sachs and Mauricio Zacharias
Starring John Lithgow, Alfred Molina, Marisa Tomei and Darren E. Burrows

Ben and George get married after years of being together without the law being on their side. After their honeymoon, George is fired from his teaching post, forcing them to stay with friends separately while they sell their place and look for cheaper housing-- a situation that weighs heavily on all involved.

An eloquent study of how love can conquer the most arduous situations, this film has the added element of a homosexual couple and their tribulations soon after the ban on same-sex marriage in New York was lifted. Not only is it a film about romantic love, but also familiar love.

John Lithgow and Alfred Molina are great as the couple who experiences all of these trials. Their chemistry together seems genuine as if they had been together for all of the decades their characters claim.

Set to the music of classical composers, this film seemed as if it were orchestrated specifically to Chopin and Beethoven in a sort of mash-up symphony. The music gave an added sense of peace and at times, sadness that classical composers have been known for. It is rare that the music influence stands out so much in a positive and non-distracting way. It truly added to the film New York setting.

I wouldn't call this movie amazing, but it was certainly touching and entertaining. Film's such as this aren't trying to change your life are change the way you see movies. They just try to tell a nice, clean story that you can enjoy. And this movie succeeded at that.

My Rating: 6.5/10

The Natural (1984)

Directed by Barry Levinson
Written by Roger Towne and Phil Dusenberry, based on the novel by Bernard Malamud
Starring Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, Kim Basinger

An unknown, middle-aged rookie ball player seems to come out of nowhere and begins to save the season of the last place team in the league. His mysterious back story and unwillingness to reveal how he came to be great creates a media frenzy and shady characters come out to buy him off for their own financial gain.

Not nearly what I expected it to be, this movie caught me off guard throughout. All I had seen of this movie is the unforgettable home run scene, in which the ball smashes a light, causing sparks to fall. I was expecting more a film about a man trying to defy the odds and become a national sensation, not a movie about a man with seemingly super natural gifts who people try to buy off to win their bets.

This scene actually depicts a terrorist attack at a ball park.

Although, I was disappointed by the plot not being what I expected, the thing that lost me most was the editing. The movie is filled with jarring cuts, unnecessary voice overs, boring montages and out of place scenes. Throughout the film, the protagonist, Roy Hobbs, keeps remembering his father and the lessons he taught him. The only problem is the lessons are out of place and at times that don't make sense.

The few things this film has going for it are good acting and superb cinematography. Caleb Deschanel (Father of Zooey and Emily) creates a beautiful picture for every shot. This film is quintessential in the cinematography world.

Overall, my disappointment did not ruin the movie. While I didn't care for the editing choices or the story, it was still a decent movie. I think it would have benefited from being shorter. The movie is a classic for a reason. But other than the cinematography, I just don't see it.

By the way… In baseball, you can't change pitchers in the middle of a batter. That's just plain cheating.

UPDATE: I've been told by one of my friends that knows more about baseball that I am, in fact, an idiot. And you can indeed change pitchers in the middle of a batter. News to me! Thanks for pointing out how stupid I am, Phil.

Diabeetus.

5/10