How To Unravel The Box.

The Box is an intriguing movie wrapped up in an enigma. Based on writer Richard Matheson’s 10-page short story, “Button, Button,” it’s about a suburban couple’s choice (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden) to push a mysterious button that results in receiving one million dollars and a stranger dying. In this feature-length film directed by Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko), the setting is rightfully set in 1970s Richmond to show the paranoia of its time. To ruin the film, the couple pushes the button and the couple is swept away to a bizarre world filled with Mars conspiracies, alien water, nosebleeds, suburban zombies, and afterlife moments.

The film is effectively creepy as it borrows elements from the Twilight Zone (the script was adapted to an episode), but the claustrophobic soft lighting and the chilling Hitchcockian/Hermann-esque music done by Arcade Fire will leave the audience in a paralysis of unexpectancy. Diaz and Marsden do fine acting, but the real award should go to Frank Langella as he plays the charming, yet sinister man delivering the box. Even his disfigured face would not surprise you, but the 70s ghastly wallpaper will. Although there is a lot to take in with all the conspiracies and plots, The Box is worth seeing, harkening back to a good suspenseful “Twilight Zone-esque” thriller.

My Rating: B

Date Film Quickies.

I’ve neglected to review the current films I watched. I’ve been on a few dates and the prerequisite seems to watch a movie. It boggles my mind since you can’t interact with your date for 2 hours but it works for a lot of people. Here’s three quick reviews of the date films I’ve seen:

Couple’s Retreat (2009)

The title says it all as four couples stay at a couple’s resort to fix their marriages. It’s an all-star cast with Malin Akerman, Vince Vaughn, Kristen Bell, and Jason Bateman. It’s pretty funny as battle-of-the-sexes scenarios go, but it’s a very predictable movie with happy ending.

Date Movie? Half and Half. It’s pretty funny and somewhat romantic, but I’ve never even interrupted my date. Strange.

 

The Informant! (2009)

The Informant is a dark comedy directed by Steven Sodenbergh and starring Matt Damon as a bipolar whistleblower. The comedy is sharp with Damon’s monologues hilarious to hear out loud. While very witty, I would only watch this film once in the movie theater. Damon’s performance is surely Oscar worthy.. He deserves something.

Date Movie? Honestly, No. Nothing romantic and a lot of babble that will surely confuse someone.

 

Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

I’ve never read the book and I was highly expecting sheer greatness ever since I saw the trailer, but the movie is highly average. A young boy with identity and family problems runs (or swims) away to a magical land of wild beasts. He gets to play make-believe (the best part) as we get to know the monsters. Again, I was expecting more in bewilderment and creativity since the book is an all-time classic. The music from Karen O and the Kids is fantastic.

Date Movie? Yes. Very childlike and there’s a lot to talk about- but no romance at all. Unfortunately, this was not a date movie for me.

Anna Wintour And The September Issue.

“Fashion is a religion. This is the bible.”

Words were never truer for anyone who makes a living in the fashion industry. And this little independent documentary provides the viewers a behind the scenes look at the making of Vogue‘s September 2007 Issue. Headed by the notorious Ice Queen/Editor-in-Chief, Anna Wintour is provided much depth and handles her power with a reasonable amount that puts shame to Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly (anyone remember Devil Wears Prada). It’s a fascinating look at the gorgeous photo shoots, the mockery people assume of fashionistas, the rise of celebrity culture, and the editiorial input that changes practically the industry and all girls around the country. But what’s most human are the funny candid moments such as the disputes of the deleted layouts by Grace Coddington, Anna Wintour’s relationship with her siblings, and the decision to crop a man’s belly. A great 90-minute movie that shed light on the editorial decisions to produce the magazine’s largest single issue. Can you believe it weighed 5 pounds with 840 pages?! I have the urge to check out GQ Magazine’s recent September Issue.