The Favourite (2018)

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos

Written by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara 

Starring Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz and Nicholas Hoult 

There are three reasons I watched this movie; it was free on a plane, I am a sucker for anything with Emma Stone and Olivia Colman gave one of the most endearing acceptance speeches ever at the Oscars. With those factors in mind, I went into it pretty optimistic. 

The film takes place in early 18th century as the country of England is at war with the French and an ill Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne. By her side is her friend, Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) who basically governs the country for the Queen while simultaneously tending to her poor health and bad temper. Then enters a new servant, Abigail (Emma Stone) who is charming and quickly becomes a new companion to the Queen as Lady Sarah is consumed by the politics of the ongoing war. 

I do not know much about the history behind Queen Anne or even 18th century England for that matter, however the story told by Lanthimos is quite interesting to watch. The movie is divided into eight different acts, and while the acts tended to drag on a little too long sometimes, I still remained attentive because of the three main women. The Favourite relies heavily on the characters and their intricate relationships with one another. You almost forget there is a war raging on outside of those royal hallways because these women's personalities are so bold you notice nothing else. 

Hats off to Olivia Colman for this performance. I'm not sure how accurate Lanthimos made this to Queen Anne's real personality but Colman made her such a fun character. Her random outbursts at the servants, her anger, her sadness, her giddy for playing with bunnies. She truly ran the gamut of emotions with this character and did it brilliantly. The supporting performances by Weisz and Stone were also very compelling and complemented Olivia Colman pleasantly. 

While the acting may get the gold, the costume and set design deservedly get the silver. I cant say with utter confidence what bedrooms looked like in the 18th century, or what Queens wore-- but if I had to make a guess this would be it! It was all beautiful, right down to the white wigs the men wore. I'm not always a big fan of period pieces from centuries ago, and that is not a diss at the wonderful aspects of this movie, it is just a personal preference. Perhaps that is why I wasn't always one hundred percent engaged, but the acting was fantastic nonetheless. Another great performance from Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz and lets hope the start of bigger and better things for Olivia Colman.

7/10

La La Land (2016)

Directed by Damien Chazelle

Written by Damien Chazelle 

Starring Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, J.K. Simmons and John Legend

     I wanna start off by saying that I am not the biggest fan of musicals whatsoever- but with all the buzz over this film I decided to take the leap. Chazelle's beautiful modern day musical surpassed my expectations. With the director's past triumph (2014's Whiplash) and Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as leads, how could it not be doomed for major success. 

     Set in Los Angeles- the city of hopes and dreams; we meet aspiring actress, Mia (Emma Stone) and jazz pianist, Sebastian (Ryan Gosling). The two first meet after an extensive highway scene musical number, in a special circumstance. They continue running into each other after that which deems us all to believe it is fate that they be together.

      As the movie progresses it starts to feel like an homage to classical hollywood films and musicals. With the set design, costumes and the beautifully crafted score of the film- I felt like I was watching a musical from the golden age of film. I was reminded constantly this wasn't a film from the 20th century as the characters were driving in Prius's and talking on iPhones. The musical numbers in this film were spectacular. They fit in perfectly with the flow of the story. The expertly shot musical scenes never took away from the brilliant story of Sebastian and Mia. They aided in telling the budding love story between the two artists. They were visual spectacles to watch- with amazing choreography and a sea of colors. It was very fun to watch while being very aesthetically and audibly pleasing. 

     Aside from the extravagant yet not overdone musical numbers- Sebastian and Mia's story is what captivated me. Sebastian being a starving jazz musician, trying to keep the genre alive. Mia being an aspiring actress jumping from audition to audition. They were both real, genuine people facing struggle, and that made them very relatable. Their relationship was very genuine and they were constantly assisting each other in their ambitions. 

     The chemistry between Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling is everlasting. I already loved the pair after the romantic comedy, Crazy, Stupid Love- so to see the on-screen duo triumph in this film was no surprise. However, they bring an extra to the table this time around. Showing they are more than just a comical duo with amazing chemistry. Gosling showed us he can sing, dance and play the piano. While Stone demonstrated her strong singing (especially in the song, "Audition). The dynamic duo bring a level of class to their roles along with some comical scenes on top of the romance. Individually, they were amazing as well. Gosling showed levels of talent we didn't know we had while also playing a character with charm and confidence. Stone exudes a similar level of charm while also showing some raw emotion over the constant rejection she faces. Both amazing. Both deserving of the Academy Award. 

     La La Land is amazing. A brilliant storyline heightened by very pleasing music (I can't stop singing "City of Stars"). A musical journey everyone needs to take regardless of your opinion on films involving song and dance. 

I give La La Land a...

8/10

Easy A (2010)

Directed by Will Gluck

Written by Bert V. Royal

Starring Emma Stone, Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgley and Aly Michalka 

     Director Will Gluck, brings us a film that could've fallen in the abyss of cliche movies that revolve around teenage angst and the struggles of fitting in in high school. However, Easy A falls into a unique category of movies about teenagers with satirical references to popular culture, genuine humor, and a lead actress who's momentum never dies down the whole film. 

     Olive (Emma Stone) is an ordinary high school student; in her own words, if she were a ten-story building, Google Earth wouldn't notice her. This claim quickly changes after an innocent lie to her best friend, Rhiannon (Aly Michalka). Growing weary of being virginal and boring, Olive tells her friend that she lost virginity to some guy in college. Un-lucky for her, the school's religion enthusiast and big gossiper, Marianne (Amanda Bynes) over-hears. Her fake confession spreads through the school like wild fire via whispers, text messages and notes passed in class. After one period, Olive's "lost" virginity is what the whole student body is talking about. The main character exacerbates her new floozy reputation when she agrees to help her gay friend (Dan Byrd) "lose his virginity." The two execute a very fake but public sexcapade to convince everyone of his "heterosexuality."

At first Olive embraces her newfound reputation as she embroiders a red A on her chest- just as Hester Prynne did in The Scarlet Letter. As her skanky facade starts to spiral out of control, Olive becomes increasingly more aware of the negatives associated with popularity. 

     What I liked about Easy A so much was how it has such a unique voice compared to other teenager themed films. It plays with the correlation between popularity and sleaze. The screenwriters really dived into what popularity has become in high school, and what it really entails. 

     Emma Stone represents who we wish we could be in the face of sometimes cruel high school judgment and gossip. She gets her chance at leading a film and does it beautifully with charm and ease. Her character had such quick wit and was so likable. I found myself constantly rooting for her the entire duration of the film. It's no surprise Stone received her first Golden Globe nomination for this role. The supporting cast is riddled with familiar names. Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci play Olive's cooky yet supportive parents. The many times I audibly laughed during Easy A were from scenes between Olive and her parents. Thomas Hayden Church plays Olive's favorite teacher, Mr. Griffith. While Lisa Kudrow plays the guidance counselor who is also the teacher's wife. Penn Badgley plays the love interest- who the main character takes the whole movie to fall for. Which we've seen before in John Tucker Must Die. 

     Easy A sheds some light on important issues that many teenagers are probably going through now and adults who went through them years ago. This may be a film directed towards teens but it really deserves a wider audience. It has lots of bold humor that anyone can enjoy. One of my favorite teen films next to Mean Girls. One of my favorite films starring Emma Stone. 

I give Easy A a...

7/10 

     

The Help (2011)

Directed by Tate Taylor

Written by Tate Taylor (screenplay) and Kathryn Stockett (novel) 

Starring Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer and Bryce Dallas Howard

     "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." These candid compliments have the power to repair any mended ego and build your self confidence and will be forever stuck in your mind like a commercial jingle after you see this film. This drama set in the 1960's is based on the critically acclaimed novel written by Kathryn Stockett and brought to the big screen by Stockett's childhood friend from Mississippi, Tate Taylor. Jackson native, Taylor makes his big directing debut with a film that tackles issues of prejudice and racism in Jackson, Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement. Stockett and Taylor conquer a story that has been told before in film, and make it an unforgettable emotional story that is driven by an impeccable cast that brings awareness to what was going on in this time period, with an appropriate level of humor to leaven the drama.
     Recent college graduate, Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan (Emma Stone) gets her first job of writing a cleaning column for the Jackson Journal. Skeeter approaches local housewife friend of hers, Elizabeth (Anna O'Reilly) in hopes of interviewing her maid, Abileen (Viola Davis). Skeeter starts to become more aware of the injustice these maids are facing at a local card game with her socialite housewife friends lead by the iron grip of Hillie Holbrook (Bryce Dallas Howard). Hillie refuses to use Elizabeth's bathroom because she allows her colored help to use it. Dismayed by this, Skeeter decides write a book from the maid's point of view, with the assistance from the reluctant Abileen. Employed by Hillie Holbrook, the sassy Minnie (Octavia Spencer) very reluctantly joins Skeeter and Abileen after she loses her job for using Hillie's bathroom during a violent thunderstorm. Eventually, dozens of other maids join the battle and Skeeter gets her book anonymously published.
     The Help brilliantly tells the story of racial prejudice and bigotry through the point of view of the black maids. Normally we hear these stories from this time told by the privileged white men and women who employ these maids, and when that happens their actual stories get lost in translation. Tate Taylor brings us the remarkably talented Davis and Spencer to play these noble black maids who are experiencing issues of injustice and poverty.
     This film portrays all black people as humble and kind and all white people as ignorant and racist, with a few exceptions. One of these exceptions is Celia Foote (Jessica Chastain) who is viewed as this outcast "trailer trash" to the other bigoted socialites. Celia eventually employs the recently fired Minnie, and breaks all the racial boundaries created by society during this time. Chastain plays a role that was so fun to watch. I found myself feeling sad for her as she was an outcast that just wanted the attention of her community members, white or black. Celia Foote saw no racial difference between her and Minnie and mostly hired her to help her impress her husband as she was very new to the housewife scene.
     Aside from Chastain's oscar nominated supporting role in the film, we get a heartfelt performance from Emma Stone as the protagonist. Stone's performance is mainly fed by Davis and Spencer, as she mostly serves as the pen that records all of their experiences. Viola Davis was Oscar nominated for her leading role in the film, as Octavia Spencer gained her first Oscar win for her supporting role. I mean, how could she not win an Oscar after her delicious pie that she makes for Hillie Holbrook.  Bryce Dallas Howard's role as the venomous queen B was fun to watch as well. Allison Janney has a minor role in the film as Skeeter's mom, which was comical at some points as she played a fierce, sometimes over the top local socialite who is sick with cancer.
     The Help is dominated by strong female performances which is one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much. It was't some fuzzy female empowerment movie about friendship. It was a powerful film covering important issues from the past, told by empowering female characters.

I give The Help an...

8/10