Sex and the City: The Movie

When I first watched Sex and the City: The Movie all the way back in 2008, I really really enjoyed it. But that was back when I didn't have a clue on how to rate a movie (I think the smartest thing I ever did was rate The Dark Knight 10/10). Yeah, it's a yummy chick flick, but seriously? 8/10? What was I thinking?!

Following on from the popular TV show Sex and the City, we are looking into the lives of four best friends living in New York: fashionista and writer Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker); preppy and organized Charlotte York (Kristin Davis); sex-loving cougar Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall) and working mother Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon). Carrie is getting married to her man Mr. Big (Chris Noth), but when he leaves her jilted on her wedding day, Carrie has to figure out what to do with her life next.
I really do like to watch chick flicks. Only for their entertainment, because I know that none of them offer anything that my real cinematic mind can really chew on. I guess that's why I 'liked' it so much back in the day. However, despite it's entertainment factor, this movie makes middle aged women look stereotypical and whiny. Sure, I desperately want cool gal pals like Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha and Miranda. But they sure would get a little annoying.
The film shamelessly parades the fact that this is a movie for women. I kind of found it disturbing how a man created this and directed all of those slow mo shots of a naked guy showering. I have never watched the TV show, and probably never will, so I missed a lot of character development which was missing in this film (probably for a good reason, too). Despite it's general fluffiness and flaws, I still found it immensely entertaining and somewhat worth my time. I never thought I would say that. I do admit that I am jealous of the insanely awesome wardrobe they have going on. And I will be watching the second film when it comes out on DVD...even though I know it's going to be complete and utter crap.

The Godmother of all chick flicks...did we actually need one of those?


6/10

Women in Trouble

Okay, it wasn't really my original intention to watch Women in Trouble (2009). But then I heard that Joseph Gordon-Levitt was in it. So I waited, and waited, then realised that the credits were rolling and I had not seen a glimpse of Joseph. I wallowed in my disappoiontment, but then saw him at the end of the credits. I was happy again, but then the preview cut off his scene. However, even though Joseph was barely in it enough to get the starring role credit on the poster, Women in Trouble was a surprisingly enjoyable film.
As the title suggests, this film follows the lives of some women, in, well, trouble. The most prominent of which is porn star Elektra Luxx (Carla Gugino), who discovers she is pregnant. Her whole world is falling down around her, but she is not the only woman that day experiencing trouble in life.
Women in Trouble is a quirky chick flick...taking out the stupid formulaic feeling and being totally unique. While it's not exactly great, it just takes a look at ten different women, in trouble. Which makes for seemingly great viewing by the way. I wouldn't say this is one for a girl's night in, but I would say this is a film to watch by yourself with a block of chocolates. It won't fail to suck you in.
6/10

The Hours

Nicole Kidman. Julianne Moore. Meryl Streep. Come on, these three in the same film? It's gotta be great, right? Yes, well it pretty much is.
The Hours (2002) is based on Virginia Woolf's book 'Mrs. Dalloway', and how it connects three different women in three different periods of time. First there is Clarissa Vaughn (Streep), a modern-day Mrs. Dalloway who is in love with her friend Richard (Ed Harris), who had AIDS. Then there is Laura Brown (Moore), a women living in 1951 Los Angeles with her son and husband. Though she has everything she wants, she is unhappy with her life, and draws many similarities to Mrs. Dalloway herself. And then there is the actual Virginia Woolf (Kidman), who is writing the novel. She is struggling with her life in 1920's countryside London, and also trying to resist the urge to commit suicide.
Basically, a movie with great actresses in it always makes me happy. Hell, this was a near perfect movie. Thanks to the performance. Yes, Streep was great, like always. Julianne Moore was my favourite, because everytime she was on screen was like seeing a revelation happening before your eyes. She handled her role with the right amount of fragility, but then held her own like her character tried so hard to do, but inevitably failed. Nicole Kidman won an Oscar for her performance, which I thought was well deserved, despite what people say. I didn't even think her prosthetic nose was a problem, and I thought it was Virginia Woolf on the screen.
This movie was beautifully constructed, and a true hall-mark in cinema. This is the way films should always be: glimmering with fantastic performances and closing in on matters of the heart.
9/10