"It's like that thing Jon Bon Jovi said: 'No man is an island.'"

About A Boy

2002; UK; 101 min.

Director: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz

Screenplay: Nick Hornby, Peter Hedges, Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz

Music: Damon Gough

Cast:

Will - Hugh Grant

Marcus - Nicholas Hoult

Christine - Sharon Small

Imogen - Madison Cook

Imogen - Jordan Cook

John - Nicholas Hutchinson

Barney - Ryan Speechley

Barney - Joseph Speechley

Fiona - Toni Collette

I'm sort of on a mission to watch every film that Hugh Grant has been in. He definitely has to be my favorite actor... ever. I was excited to see what Hugh Grant had to offer in this film. The plot begins with Will (Hugh Grant), a bachelor who sits around and really does nothing. Will is able to remain unemployed and live comfortably because his father wrote a song, "Santa's Super Sleigh," and every time the song plays, he collects royalties for it. Parallel to Will's story, we meet Marcus (Nicholas Hoult), a young outcast at school whose mother (SPOILER ALERT) attempts suicide. When Will and Marcus cross paths, they end up forming a fun, interesting relationship. The eventual friendship between the two is absolutely adorable and quite heartwarming.

While this film may have not had the most sophisticated cinematography or plot line, I thought it was great and really enjoyed it. I would recommend this to anyone as a pretty light and quite fun film.

iRate: 4.5/5 CDs

Trailer: Check out the official website by clicking here!

"Another wedding invitation. And a list. Lovely."

Four Weddings and a Funeral

1994; UK; 117 min.

Director: Mike Newell

Screenplay: Richard Curtis

Music: various artists

Cast:

Charles - Hugh Grant

Tom - James Fleet

Gareth - Simon Callow

Matthew - John Hannah

Fiona - Kristin Scott Thomas

David - David Bower

Scarlett - Charlotte Coleman

Carrie - Andie MacDowell

I took out a bunch of movies from the library because I knew that I would have a lot of free time on my hands this vacation (I just had my wisdom teeth taken out.). So, that explains my current intense blogging trend. I decided to take out this particular film because I love Hugh Grant. One of my favorite films is definitely "Music and Lyrics," which stars Grant as a retired pop star. While Hugh Grant did a great job acting in this film, the film itself was absolutely awful. I was totally disappointed that Grant took part in this train wreck of a film.

The plot was interesting - I guess... Obviously, the plot was about four weddings and a funeral. It was clever how the weddings built on each other. For example, a couple who meets at the first wedding (SPOILER ALERT) is the couple getting married at the second wedding. However, no witty banter or clever moments could save this film. The romantic relationship between Charles (Hugh Grant) and Carrie (Andie MacDowell) was completely unbelievable and unrealistic. They had only met once and then they fell in love. They knew nothing about each other whatsoever. This particular "love at first sight" wasn't even romantic - it was just plain weird. The characters had no connection and didn't build on their relationship after meeting each other. Andie MacDowell's character barely had any lines in the whole film. After the film ended, the audience is still confused (or at least I was) as to which characters are in relationships with others. The best part of this film was casting Hugh Grant. Other than Grant, I couldn't wait for this film to be over. There was absolutely no thought put into this film and I would not recommend it to anyone.

iRate: 1/5 weddings

(*NOTE: That rating is only above zero because of Hugh Grant!)

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYV_mV3BckA

"That's wonderfully sensitive... especially from a man who wears such tight pants."

Music and Lyrics
2007; USA; 96 min.

Director: Marc Lawrence
Screenplay: Marc Lawrence
Music: various writers

Cast:
Hugh Grant - Alex Fletcher
Drew Barrymore - Sophie Fisher
Brad Garrett - Chris Riley
Hayley Bennett - Cora Corman
Kristen Johnston - Rhonda
Campbell Scott - Sloan Cates

I couldn't resist watching "Music and Lyrics" for about the fourth time when it was on HBO. This is definitely one of my favorite movies ever! The genre of this movie is romantic comedy - which I have said before is my favorite. The story is about Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant), an old popstar from the 80s, whose career is practically over. Alex's one last shot at fame is to write a hit song to be performed with Cora Corman (Hayley Bennett), who is more popular than "Britney and Christina put together." When we find out that Alex can't write his own lyrics, he encounters Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore), his plant watering lady, who has a magical talent for writing. The story goes on to examine both Sophie and Alex's pasts. (There is much more to the story than this - I just don't want to give it all away!) The casting in this film is absolutely fantastic! Hugh Grant does an outstanding job as Alex - he's charismatic, has a great voice, and he's also gorgeous. Drew Barrymore also has a personality that seems to fit her physical appearance. She plays the part of Sophie fabulously - you can almost imagine that she is somewhat like her character. Hayley Bennett's character, Cora Corman, is hilarious - she's a buddha-loving, wheatgrass drinking self-proclaimed "spiritual" type, yet at the same time she's a promiscuous tween idol.

When I began watching the film with my new "film eyes," I was able to notice things that I wouldn't have noticed prior to my Art of Film enlightenment. In the beginning of the film, there's one shot where the camera is looking into Alex's apartment through a window divided into three sections. It's clearly visible that Alex is standing the the left section and Sophie in the right section, with the middle window pane empty. This is demonstrative of the space between them in the beginning of the plot. As the film goes on and their relationship develops, Alex and Sophie are standing closer and closer to each other. Also, in one scene when there is conflict in the plot, Alex and Sophie are standing over a New York skyline with a tower separating them. (This film gives the viewer a great sense of the NYC atmosphere!) I was surprised at cinematic elements such as these because I don't really think of "Music and Lyrics" as a "quality film," but more of a movie. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love it and highly recommend it! I also happen to love the film's soundtrack. As cheesy as some of the songs may be, they have great rhythm, and of course, lyrics. Funny and sweet, "Music and Lyrics" is an outstanding film that I would suggest to anyone.

iRate: 5/5 tight pants
Trailer:http://video.google.com/videosearchq=music+and+lyrics+trailer&hl=en&emb=0&aq=f#