SLC Punk!

1998

Director: James Merendino

Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics

Key Elements: Concept – Characters – Message – Lines

My Review:

Interestingly enough, this movie both pays homage to and de-validates the punk lifestyle.

The most interesting part of the movie for me was the Mike character. The one who looks like he doesn’t belong is more hardcore punk than anyone. Though he looks like Wally Clever, he has an anti-establishment ideology that matches Che Rivera in rebellion. He’s so punk, he’s come full circle.

The most moving part is when Stevo finds Heroine Bob dead. It’s disturbing enough. But becomes absolutely heartbreaking when Steve sobbs “What am I going to do for friends?” You really get a sense of just how alone he feels.

But the story makes its greatest statement in the end. Stevo realizes that being against everything means his future holds nothing. He cleans up and lives straight.

The implication is that life has a lot more to offer when you define yourself by what you’re for – not by what you’re against.

Clip:



Quotes:

• To be an anarchist in Salt Lake City was certainly no easy task, especially in 1985.
• Do you love her? - I don't know. I'd have to think about that. -It's not really a thinking question.
• I don't know who started it and I don't give a fuck. The one thing I do know is that we did it harder, we did it faster, and we definitely did it with more love, baby. You can't take that away from us.
• I wanna save the rain forests, y'know, somebody's gotta fight for them, it's just... [slams the table]
• I like Sandy. Now Sandy has nothing to do with anarchy in general, she's just a beautiful, wonderful, funny, witty, loving, sexy, tough-as-nails, little weird girl, and I absolutely adore her. I like Sandy a lot.
• You don't live your life by lyrics
• I rest my case on this: In a country of lost souls rebellion comes hard. But in a religiously oppressive city, where half it's population isn't even of that religion, it comes like fire.
• It wasn't that I loved Sandy, I knew that we had an understanding. But I discovered then that Chris was right, all things had systems, even me. I was about to beat the living shit out of this guy because he had invaded my territory. It was MY territory, no question about it, just like in the wild. I was following nature, and nature was order and order is the system.
• Only posers die you fucking idiot!
• What do you do when your foundation falls apart? I don't know. They don't teach you that in school.Where were we going? I mean, really, what was happening? This life, it was crazy. I felt tired. I mean, halfway through the season, I just felt, inside, I was so tired. And I had this wave of melancholy just like sweep through me.

Still:

Lola Rennt (Run Lola Run)

1999

Director: Tom Tykwer

Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics

Key Elements: Concept

My Review:

This movie is a cult classic. It plays out multiple endings for a scenario where a girl must run to save her boyfriend.

Cool music, stylish filming and an interesting concept.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• In 20 minutes okay?Stay put okay?
• …I promise I’ll come up with something.

Stills:

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc

1999

Director: Luc Besson

Distributor: Sony Pictures

Key Elements: Story – Characters – Concept

My Review:

For some reason, this is not a very well known movie. Which is surprising because it has a well known cast and is excellently made.

We get a deeper glimpse into the inner torment and motivation of Joan of Arc, history’s most celebrated heroine. These is very creatively demonstrated both in artistic flashbacks and in the personification of Joan’s doubt.

I don’t think a better movie could be made about this character.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• I am the drum on which God is beating out His messages. And right now He is beating so hard, it's splinting my ears!
• I'm nothing in all this, I'm just the Messenger.
• You seem a little wealthy to be a servant of God, don't you think?
• You, who claimed to be my judges, you'll be careful, for you too one day will be judged.
• It's not my body I want to save. It's my soul.
• France does not belong to you, Charles. She belongs to God.

Stills:

Jerry MaGuire

1996

Director: Cameron Crow

Distributor: Sony Pictures

Key Elements: Characters – Lines – Message

My Review:

A friend of mine and I were talking about what we thought the best romantic movie was. We decided to exclude any that gave unrealistic representations of love. In the end, I decided THIS was the best romantic flick I could think of.

There’s a lot of reasons to like this movie. But what I really love is the statements it makes about romance.

It’s been said that women need love and men need respect. We see both aspects in this movie.
Dorothy respects Jerry for the courage and conviction she saw in his mission statement. This is a good lesson for any guy looking to be some woman’s hero. Be willing to take a stand for what you believe – It’s attractive.

And Jerry shows love for Dorothy when he comes home to her because he misses her so badly. What he tells her is a reminder to guys that what a woman needs more than anything is to be shown that she’s important to you – that you love her.

The only possible drawback this movie has is the repeated statement that two people can complete each other. The Christian knows that only Jesus truly completes a person.

But looking at it from another angle, when husband and wife come together, they become one. Therefore, they do, in a sense, complete each other.

Great romantic flick.

Clip:



Quotes:

• I hated myself... no, I hated my place in the world.
• The key to this business is personal relationships.
• That's how you become great, man. Hang your balls out there!
• Show you the money.
  - No, no. You can do better than that! I want you to say it brother with meaning! Hey, I got Bob Sugar on the other line. I bet you he can say it!
  Ye, ye, no, no, no. Show you the money.
  - No! Not "show you"! "Show me" the money!
  Show me the money!
  - Yeah! Louder!
  Show me the money!
  - I need to feel you Jerry! Show me the money!
  Show me the money!
  - I love black people.
  I love black people!
  - Who's your motherfucker, Jerry?
  You're my mother fucker! Show me the money!
  - Uh! Congratulations, you're still my agent.
• I am out here for you. You don't know what it's like to be ME out here for YOU. It is an up-at-dawn, pride-swallowing siege that I will never fully tell you about, ok?
• You are hanging on by a very thin thread and I dig that about you!
• D'you know that the human head weighs 8 pounds?
  - Did you know that Troy Aikman, in only six years, has passed for 16,303 yards?
  D'you know that bees and dogs can smell fear?
  - Did you know that the career record for hits is 4,256 by Pete Rose who is NOT in the Hall of Fame?
  D'you know that my next door neighbor has three rabbits?
  - I... I can't compete with that!
• I love him! I love him for the man he wants to be. And I love him for the man he almost is.
• I just want to be inspired.
• If this [points to heart] is empty, this [points to head] doesn't matter.
• I'm cloaked in failure!
• I love you. You... you complete me. And I just...
  - Shut up, just shut up. You had me at "hello".

Stills: