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Reviews
Hallam Foe (2007)
Distorted drama, though not about teenage life
Jamie Bell is obviously a talented actor. Having said that, we can begin to rely on the strong foundations of this movie. At moments it soaks in an heavy indie manner and becomes bleary, but then the frames get wider and an arty film unveils with a broken censorship.
Hallam is a loner after his moms supposed suicide. He has a need for watching other's peoples lives, not for sexual arousal, but rather for trying to put the clues about life together. All the while he pursues the conviction that his stepmother is responsible for the death of his mother. He escapes to Edinburgh and his voyeuristic habits finally pay off when he spots a woman that looks just like his deceased mother. But this is not a film about romance, far from it, I would say. Hallam's and the look-alike's relationship elopes from obsession and need for love, love from anyone that is willing to give it. I think the film hits some good morals this way, because teenage love tends to be synonymous with the simple human need for romantic companionship. Hallam's need for company is empowered by the absence of a mother and it drives him to do very impulsive things. I really thrived on the ending scene when Hallam understands that he won't find anything in Kate. As he walks through the city the camera films the understanding on his face; first it's miserable and childish, then it goes up and you see a new Hallam, a clear and beautiful character development.
That is why this movie is good. Not only is it well done but it teaches stuff too, especially to teenagers who are willing to watch it.
Ask the Dust (2006)
Dreary adaption of excitement-spurting work
I really enjoyed the first half of this movie, I enjoyed the characters; Justin Kirk as Sammy felt as the right move, Salmha Hayek wasn't exactly depicting the picture I head of Camilla in my head after reading the novel, but overall, it is a good cast. Colin Farrell does a great job being witty and submerges with excellence to the abyss of desperation and frustration a writer faces when not able to give into the suffering of his vision. Every now and then his acting would get kind of cheezy and close to overacting (see the exaggerated use of his limber eyebrows), but he does catch the character of Arturo Bandini.
Now the second half of the movie elopes into a endless turning of the script. Shoot the scene and move on to the next one, as long as we get everything that's needed. It was very much an anti-climax. I also didn't like that the movie wasn't true to the book. It was to much of stir-up and in the end, it messes with the books entire soul and entity.
Road Trip (2000)
Dreary movie, below average comedy
Road Trip manages to frame every detail a standard comedy about sex and love should consist of. However, there is nothing outstanding in these frames of randomly put together sex, racial, drug- and friendship jokes.
Sean William Scott reprises the exact same role as in American Pie, humping his way through the whole thing. The rest of the characters are too boring and subtle and they all fit a pattern of who should preferably be in college guy gang.
All that is left then is the story, which can pretty easily be summed up with the old line "never have a girlfriend in college". If you want to gather your buddies and have a laugh don't choose this movie because neither beer nor pot will help you get more than a smile from this.