Legally Blonde (2001)

Directed by Robert Luketic 

Screenplay written by Karen McCullah and Kristen Smith

Based on the novel by Amanda Brown 

Starring Reese Witherspoon, Luke Perry, Selma Blair and Matthew Davis

What do you do when your Harvard Law bound boyfriend dumps you because you are essentially too much of a shallow blonde? You apply to Harvard Law yourself and get accepted to show him up like Elle Woods does! Yes I know, this story is a little corny and cliche, but its just such a fluffy feel good movie, you can't help but love it. 

As I said before, Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) is your typical blonde sorority queen, who is dating the perfect guy, Wes Warner (Matthew Davis). When Elle is expecting a proposal, she gets dumped because she doesn't fit his blue blood family of lawyers. So Elle does what any girl would do to show her ex-boyfriend she is more than just a Gucci handbag, she applies to Harvard Law herself and gets accepted only to find out Wes has a new fiance, Vivian (Selma Blair). But Elle learns much more about herself while at Law school, than she anticipated. 

Okay, so this movie isn't the most complex. It does not work on many levels, it doesn't have amazing Oscar winning performances (although Witherspoon did snag a Golden Globe nomination). The storyline is very predictable, but it's just so innocent and cute, it's impossible to hate. Reese Witherspoon makes Elle very charming and likable, and you find yourself rooting for her the entire movie. You want her to get the guy and stick it to the old professor and win the jury over for her client.

 Reese's acting performance is really the only one worth mentioning. There is a slew of other big names thrown into the mix like Holland Taylor, Victor Garber, Luke Perry and Ali Larter-- but they're all just supporting characters who add to the fluff of the movie. 

If you want a goofy comedy that's riddled with stereotyped characters and incredibly easy to follow-- this is the flick for you. It definitely leaves you satisfied, but in a way a peanut butter and jelly sandwich would, not a steamed lobster dinner. 

6/10

Wild (2014)

Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée 

Written by Nick Hornby (screenplay) and Cheryl Strayed (memoir "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail")

Starring Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern and Gaby Hoffmann

     Wild is a rare film about self-discovery and taking a "journey" to "find yourself" that is not a disappointment. I may be a bit bias since I was a huge fan of the memoir that this movie is based upon- "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail." However, that is not to take away from the overall greatness of this movie. This movie is based on the real events in Chery Strayed's life that led up to her ultimately deciding to hike 1,000 miles on the PCT from the Mexico border to Canada. 

     The movie opens with a gruesome and raw scene of Cheryl Strayed (portrayed by Reese Witherspoon) sitting on top of a mountain on the trail, ripping off a toe nail and subsequently accidentally knocking her shoe off the side of the cliff. If this intense opening scene doesn't immediately drag you into the following storyline, than I don't know what will. Cheryl enters this extremely strenuous hike in which she is neither physically or mentally prepared for- following the death of her beloved mother, Bobbi (Laura Dern). The film follows Cheryl's journey across the trail, and every obstacle that she overcomes- with reoccurring flashbacks. Flashbacks show us Cheryl and her brother (the real life Cheryl also has a sister who was not given a character in the film) growing up poor, but rich in love. Their mother is constantly shown as a beaming ray of hope and optimism. She loves her children more than her arms can stretch out, she goes to college with Cheryl, all while maintaining her super mom persona. Things take a depressing turn as we see flashbacks of Bobbi finding out she has terminal cancer. After her death, Cheryl becomes involved with drugs and begins sleeping around with anyone who will ask. Finally, she decides to "put herself in the way of beauty" and hike herself to who her mother always thought she was, and would be. 

     Hornby did a brilliant job at transforming the heartbreaking and inspiring story from Cheryl's memoir- into an equals as awe-inspiring film. Cheryl is forced to overcome unbearable grief following the death of her mother. The method she chooses to conquer that grief, and become who she was always supposed to be is nothing less of impressive. This movie is all about perseverance and as corny as it sounds, finding your true best self and holding on to it. One of my favorite parts about the film was how it often used Simon & Garfunkel's song, "El Condor Pasa (If I Could)" as a bridge between obstacles Cheryl was facing on the trail to things from her past. 

     As far as acting goes, Reese Witherspoon nailed it. This was such a fresh, new role for her. She normally plays very fluffy, sweet characters- but Cheryl is rough around the edges. Witherspoon does an amazing job of portraying this real life character who has gone through such devastation loosing her mother. She has many intense scenes with raw emotion that left me with goosebumps. Lara Dern had a heartwarming supporting role. Her character's intense optimism never died down even after the news of her imminent death. Witherspoon and Dern both earned Academy Award nominations for their performances. 

     I love Wild for many reasons. It met my expectations after reading the memoir and then seeing the movie. The story itself is so inspiring. The acting is incredible. You would think after seeing the intense physical and emotional pain Cheryl goes through on this hike, that you would never want to hike again- but this movie just makes me want to go on a similar intense hike. Overall great movie. 

I give Wild a...

9/10

Walk The Line (2005)

Directed by James Mangold

Written by James Mangold, Gill Dennis and Johnny Cash (novel)

Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin and Robert Patrick 

     Johnny Cash fans will audibly rejoice for this film, and non Johnny Cash fans will become fans after this musical triumph based on the life of legendary singer, John R. Cash. I went into this movie knowing a few notable songs by him, and being a minor fan. After seeing Mangold and Joaquin Phoenix revive this musical legend- I can now say I am a much bigger fan. Walk The Line tells Cash's sometimes dark story of his rise to stardom in an honest way which doesn't make you praise him- it makes you see where he came from and how he became successful, and thus respect his to fame. 

     The film opens in the early 1940's with a young Johnny Cash growing up in Arkansas, under the discipline of his hard-ass father, Ray Cash (Robert Patrick). This sets as a preview to where Cash firs became interested in music- as he is often seen singing with his mother, or listening to the radio with his older brother. Fast-forward many years and we see Johnny living in Memphis with his wife, Vivian (Ginnifer Goodwin) and his daughter. Now in the mid 1950's, he is in a band called, Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Twos. He auditions for a record label with his band, and thus begins his journey to fame. Johnny finds himself on tour with a young Jerry Lee Lewis and June Carter (Reese Witherspoon).  While the number of shows played tallies up and his fame grows, we start to see Cash's addiction to pills and alcoholism take affect. His unique, deep voice continues to rocket him to stardom while his alcoholism and pill addiction drags his relationship with June down. The film progresses to scenes from the 1960's where his relationship with Vivian has ended and he does a concert in the Folsom prison. 

     Mangold takes a very interesting approach in how he portrays Cash. He is shown often as a flawed man who gets by with his immense musical talent. This movie wasn't made as a shrine of heroism to the great Johnny Cash. If anything, this was very much a love story. Through his drug addiction and alcoholism we see June's persistence in being there for him. She remains a friend to Cash even through his worst times. They have a very unconventional love story as they met on tour, and had a very rocky relationship considering his drug abuse. This movie includes many of Cash's songs, often from start to finish- and that is what I enjoyed about this movie. The music plays a very important part in this movie which is equally balanced with the love story between him and June. 

     The acting performances by the two lead roles was amazing to watch. Witherspoon and Phoenix both did all the singing and playing of instruments themselves and I was extremely impressed. Phoenix's ability to accurately imitate Johnny Cash's speaking and singing voice was highly impressive. Witherspoon gives one of her best performances of the sweet southern bell, June - earning her an Oscar win. 

     This film is great for anybody- Johnny Cash fans or just people who recognize the name. The singing is great, the acting is superb and the storyline is interesting. I was unaware of a lot of the dark things that aided in Johnny Cash's early life and this film served as a lesson to me. 

I give Walk The Line a...

7/10