The Memory Keeper's Daughter: Blame Institutions

My mom and I are some of the most indecisive people when it comes to picking movies (she'll be in the mood for a drama and I'll want to watch a comedy or something like that). Last night we limited our options by giving up on renting one, instead picking one from the free on demand movies. Ultimately we picked this tear jerking movie that I'm pretty sure was made for Lifetime...

Dermont Mulrony plays Dr. Henry, whose wife give birth to twins, one boy and one girl, in the 60s. The only problem is that the girl has Down Syndrome. He decides to separate the daughter from the family, telling the nurse to take her to a home for people with mental disabilities, and telling his wife and the rest of the community that the baby died.

The nurse is unable to take her to the home and cares for the baby herself. The movie progresses through the childhood and teenage years of the twins. Norah, the doctor's wife, continues through life wishing for the daughter that died. She turns to alcohol and other men when Dr. Henry is not there for her.

Needless to say, Norah and her son eventually find photographs of the daughter and letters from the nurse to Dr. Henry keeping him updated on his daughter's life. The film was emotional and as the movie progressed it showed the changes in society's views towards people with Down Syndrome.

I enjoyed it, and hey, it was free!

Based on the novel by Kim Edwards.

Tropic Thunder: Tom Cruise?!?

I was skeptical about seeing this movie to begin with, but I wanted to hang with my friends so I decided to go.

My skepticism seemed to be within reason. Sure, the movie was funny, I mean stick a bunch of comedy actors in the middle of a jungle with drug dealers and there are sure to be some laughs.

There were a lot of the same actors from Pineapple Express like Danny McBride who played Red in Pineapple. In this flick he was an stunt coordinator specializing in explosives. He did a better job with Pineapple...or maybe he just had better material to work with...

Along with the typical comedy actors, there were a collection of actors I didn't know were going to be in the film and I wouldn't think of most of them as comedy actors. Matthew McConaughey was Ben Stiller's character's agent, and Tom Cruise surprised us all (well at least the ones who didn't know he was in the movie) as the producer of the film they were making.

I probably would never see the movie again unless you paid me but I will say this: "Apple Bottom Jeans, boots with the fur..."

Pineapple Express: No Pants

This movie was HILARIOUS! Some people might say that it's juvenile and stupid, which is true, and that it glamorizes doing illegal drugs, also true, but that doesn't stop it from being one of the funniest movies I have seen all summer!

So, a 25 year old is dating a high school girl and they sell pot to high school kids, no big deal. This movie was packed with so many laughs, I'm at a loss as to how to explain to you how great it was.

This is the best I can do:

Dust Buster fight.

Last 10 mintues: no pants...(I'll let that one remain a bit of a mystery since it was what left me doubled over outside of the theater trying to breath after a solid block of laughter)

Two TVs

"Camping" in the woods

"I gave you my jacket!"

"I'm the only one in the whole city who has it"

"You got it from Red, who got it from Ted...?"


It may have something to do with the fact that I go to the number 3 Reefer school in the country, but a lot of what happens to these people seems vaguely familiar...

21: Catch Him (Already)

From the beginning of the movie, after the first trip to Vegas, my mom and I spent the entire rest of the movie going "When are they going to catch him?" hoping that would make things a little more interesting.

This movie was horrible, it was a long string of playing Blackjack in Vegas (and I would have to say that it is one of the most boring card games to watch) and counting cards (which you don't even understand anyway) and then splurging with all of the money they've made.

In addition, I've heard that the original students at MIT, on which the movie is based, were all Asian. Jim Sturgess and Kate Bosworth are not Asian, they are white, typical Hollywood.

Plus, the ending is totally predictable (go figure): what you think is happening/happened actually did happen, congratulations you figured that one out...

Overall: Total piece of crap

P.S. I know "Catch Him Already" is three words instead of two, but I thought the whole phase was necessary.