Movie: *REVIEW* Mysterious Skin

I will openly admit that I am on a Joseph Gordon-Levitt kick at the moment. I go through a phase where I become a little too focused on just one actor that has impressed me (Edward Norton, Christian Bale and ESPECIALLY Matt Damon. I have a huge school-girl crush on him….). With that in mind, I am prone to look at their work to analyze their overall acting talent.

Well, Mr. Gordon-Levitt has impressed me after having seen (500) Days of Summer, which I have also reviewed here in this blog. I had to see what he was made of, so I took the time to look up his previous roles in movies. I’m quite glad that I did.

Mysterious Skin

I will say that I was not prepared about the topic in the movie. However, that did not stop me from completing it. Considering that I didn’t know the background of the director, Gregg Araki, I went into it open and curious and left very shocked and amazed.

Here is the cast for the movie:

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Neil McCormick

Brady Corbet as Brian Lackey

Michelle Trachtenberg as Wendy

Jeff Licon as Eric

Michelle, Jeff, Joseph, and Brady - Main cast of Mysterious Skin

Mary Lynn Rajskub as Avalyn Friesen

Elisabeth Shue as Mrs. McCormick

Chase Ellison as 8-year-old Neil McCormick

George Webster as 8-year-old Brian Lackey

Bill Sage as Coach

Lisa Long as Mrs. Lackey

Chris Mulkey as Mr. Lackey

Richard Riehle as Charlie

Kelly Kruger as Deborah

Pretty interesting and varied cast. Some well-known while there are others that are not. There are a few that I recognized and was not expecting the roles that they did play for this movie based on their previous work.

The movie touches on the very sensitive topic of sexual abuse of children. Based off the novel written by Scott Heim, the movie does a great job of handling the displays and actions of the two main protagonists, which are two males who are drastically affected by the sexual abuse they received by their baseball coach at a young age. The story is set up through the eyes of both boys, Neil and Brian, and their views on how they were affected by this event and their lives afterward. Brain is probably the most traumatized out of the two, having horrible nose bleeds and blackouts when trying to remember certain events and has come to the conclusion that he was abducted by aliens because he cannot recall any of the events. Neil, however, has come to embrace the event in aiding his confirmation of being a homosexual, along with his fascination with older gentlemen.

It is visually stimulating, heartbreaking, yet wonderful and brilliantly preformed. Joseph and Brady both portray the characters of Neil and Brain so greatly, that it almost outshines the other actors and actresses in the film. It’s fantastic overall and it does not sugarcoat the main issue of the film. It will make you a bit unsettled, but it will also have you on the edge of your seat. It shows Joseph’s acting talent in full and how immersed he can be when playing a certain role.

If you are in the mood for a thought-provoking, attention catcher and a movie that will leave a long-lasting impression, this is a great film to accomplish that for you.

Movie: *Review* (500) Days of Summer

Staring off my first movie review for this blog, I decided to critique something that I hold at a high ranking.

(500) Days of Summer

This movie is something that everyone with a heart, intelligent mind, and soul should see. The first few verbal lines in the movie sum it up well, “This is a story of boy meets girl. But you should know up front, this is not a love story.”

The casting is as follows:

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tom Hansen, a trained architect who works as a writer at a greeting card company

Zooey Deschanel as Summer Finn, assistant to Tom’s boss and romantic interest of Tom

Chloë Moretz as Rachel Hansen, Tom’s younger sister

Geoffrey Arend as McKenzie, Tom’s co-worker at the greeting card company

Matthew Gray Gubler as Paul, one of Tom’s friends

Clark Gregg as Vance, Tom’s boss

Rachel Boston as Alison, Tom’s blind date

Minka Kelly as Autumn

Patricia Belcher as Millie

Richard McGonagle as the Narrator

There are a few actors that I have never really seen before or paid much attention to, but I will say that I will from now on because they really show their talent in this film.

The film follows Tom and Summer’s relationship, running through the days that they encountered with each other. The attitudes towards love and relationships as a whole are shown throughout the film from each character. As it states, this is not a love story. It is more so about the trails of being or falling in love.

The format of the movie can throw off viewers a bit, as it skips around on the different days and events that the couple encounters, but it all comes together at the end.

The soundtrack also helps in making the film stand out, labeling it as an Indie film. Such names as The Smiths, Doves, Regina Spektor, & Feist are included in the film.

This film is very memorable for the quotes that are presented, almost making it seem as a cult classic. Considering that it was labeled as “A breakthrough film of the summer,” a lot of people did not know that it existed. It was a limited release, in which you could only see it in certain cities or independent theaters. I will have to admit that this film slipped right past me. I would not have known about it if it wasn’t suggested from someone who stated that I would enjoy the film after having seen it themselves.

A heart-wrenching, but a comedic and romantic film about relationships and life, I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a different perspective on being, falling, and recovering from love.

Fiction – Lies

I often write fiction in my spare time (when I have it, that is…), and at times, it is very difficult to get it all out because of my lack of time. So, instead of keeping it all saved on my MacBook to waste away, I figured I may as well put some of it on this blog for viewing, critiques, or what have you.

Short Story – Lies

I was growing impatient. I had been waiting for about a good hour, incognito since that was how I was suppose to appear. The little bistro on the corner was where I sat, annoyed by the waitress that continued to pester me about getting a refill on my water. The only reason I would agree was because I only wanted to chew on the ice and imagine it to be you. I wanted to tear you into pieces for making me wait so long.

Annoyed, irritated, angry…

Was I being stood up?

If so, then it would only make the situation between us worsen.

I hadn’t seen you in weeks. I figured that the odd call in the middle of the night was nothing more than an accident. Why in the world would you call me so late at night?

Luckily I was alone.

I had been for about a week. He wasn’t going to return for another week or so.

Work was much more important at the time. But, when he was to return home, I was to be gone.

And you knew that already. You were waiting for the time for when I would leave on business anyway. You prepared the whole event in your mind…

I arrive in another week, attending meetings and working normally as if everything was fine. Then you would call me…

But at 4 am?  I am barely alive when I answer the phone, tempted to curse at the very thought of some… hotel official calling me.

And then I hear your voice…

It was tired, low, and sensual. You spoke instantly at the sound of my hello, not taking the time to use small words to keep a conversation with me.

You told me you longed for me, wanted to see me and was pained by the fact that we had been too separate for far too long.

I agreed, but didn’t say anything to interrupt. I just listened to you speak, having not heard from you in days, and the sound of your voice was good enough for me.

But, your words veered off of romantic sentences to a plan of secrecy.

You told me to meet you at the corner bistro, about two blocks from my hotel, to dress in black and cover my eyes with sunglasses, and to sit at a table that rested near the sidewalk.

Why I had to appear in such a form was strange enough, but the fact that you made it sound so exciting and exhilarating, that I finally spoke, saying that I would meet you there after my last appointment with some old man, a client of mine, around 3.

At that, you bid me goodnight and hung up the phone.

It was abrupt, short, and lovely at the same time.

But, it’s now 5:15… I have been waiting for about 2 hours now. I’m growing tied, my bottom is getting uncomfortable with the seat, and if that damn waitress comes to me one more time, I’m going to grab her head and pound it into the table.

Seeing that maybe this idea to meet was a mistake; a joke to be more specific, I got to my feet and began walking out.

I figured a cab would be best. I was too tired to walk back to the hotel, and I didn’t mind paying for the fare.

Making my way to the curb, distressed and disappointed to have come, knowing that it was just another false promise that we could never keep, I was yanked aside by a forced grab, turning me around with a spin.

Getting ready to knee the bastard in the crotch, I looked up to see someone that I would never expect.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

He was supposed to be home. Not here, he was supposed to end his conference a while ago. A week ago. Why the hell was HE here?

“Why don’t you tell me that first? You’re supposed to be at home.” I said, watching his expression change from a threatening glare, to a confused and bewildered look.

“I had another meeting that lasted longer here…”

He was lying. I could tell because he couldn’t look me in the face. Releasing myself from his grip, I straightened myself.

“I told you… I had a meeting here last week. Did you ignore me while you were so busy reading the morning paper?” I said, my tone sharp.

His gaze averted once again, and I stared at him, amazed. “Meeting someone?” I asked, a smile on my face.

He instantly looked over to me, protesting. “Impossible! You know I would never do that! Why would you say such a thing?”

I just smiled, reaching up to take his check in my hand gently. “I was kidding. You just seemed… suspicious to me…”

He let out a small sigh, seeming to have been frustrated. “I apologize.” he said quietly, before looking over me. “Where are you off to dressed like that?”

Not really having a plan for such an encounter, I quickly came up with an excuse. “I’m meeting a client at a private club. We have a business transaction to discuss…”

He gave a nod in understanding, his face turning to place a kiss along the palm of my hand softly.

Any other day I would take that as a sign to return to the hotel and prepare myself to be dominated once again.

But not today.

Today… I was meeting the only one who I would welcome to do such a thing.

“Well… I’m running late. It’s not too far from here, so I’m going to go ahead and walk.”

“Alright then… I’m sure we’re in the same hotel. I’ll call you on your cell phone so that we can meet later, dear…” he said, placing a kiss on my cheek as he waved a cab over.

“That would be fine… I will chat with you later.” I said quickly, wanting to get as far away as possible without being seen.

“I love you.”

I watched him get into the cab, having said those painful words once again that made my heart squeeze in pain.

“I love you too..” I said, as fake, but believable as I could.

It was a joke to say that to him all the time. Yet, I didn’t feel anything when I said it. But, having a heart, it felt guilty.

After seeing him drive away, I tried my best to force that strange event out of my mind and began looking for the one person that I was restless to see.

Having left the bistro, I knew that it would be too late to see him anytime soon if he had arrived there already.

I was beginning to give up hope. He led me along.

Was this my punishment? Having heard his voice that had called me, begged me no less to see him?

The real pain of being heartbroken began to surface as I made my way back to the curbside, getting ready to wave a cab over.

But before I could even raise my hand to do so, someone grabbed it, giving it a gentle squeeze.

I felt a breath at my ear, not giving me the chance to turn around.

“Are you angry? Because if you are, then you can use that anger for something else when we return to my home…”

I was no longer angry…

I was anxious and aroused.

Damn that voice of his…