The American President

Cast: Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, Michael J Fox
Director: Rob Reiner
Writer: Aaron Sorkin
Synopsis:
A widowed President of The United States fall in love during his election year. (written by yours truly)

Review:
I'll keep it short. I just watched it on TV when I have nothing to do. What a wonderful discovery! I haven't felt this good about romantic comedy since I last watched Notting Hill or My Sassy Girl. The fact that I wrote this soon after I finished watching it on TV says on how impressed I was. This movie is just one of those rare few that can make you feel good no matter how ridiculous the concept would be in reality, like a well told fairy tale fantasy. The idea of president falling in love is ripe for all sorts of political satire and backlash and that's why the approach used by Reiner to tell a straight romantic love story that works so well is wonderfully surprising. What makes the film works is also that we believe the president character played by Michael Douglas is a truly good and sympathetic man and that the romance between the President and the lobbyist (played by beautiful Annette Bening) feels really true as well; we really root for them to be together against all odds. Yes, in reality, we live in a cynical, unfair world where most US presidents are like GW Bush. However, if you could just accept the fact that this movie is not about real life, then you would probably be entertained and heartened by what this movie has to offer. This movie was made about 10 years ago and I feel that it has been kind of forgotten, which is too bad because I feel that this is the kind of movie that should not be forgotten easily. I hope that this review would encourage you to make a wonderful discovery out of this movie, if you haven't already.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Cast: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood, Mark Ruffalo, Kirsten Dunst and Tom Wilkinson
Director: Michael Gondry
Writer: Charlie Kaufman
Synopsis:
In the futuristic present day when a technology that can erase memory exists, a couple who had just had a bad breakup (played by Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet) decided to have their memory of the relationship erased, only to discover that it can't keep them apart. (written by yours truly)

Review:
Okay, I am such a procascinator. I have anticipated this movie way before it came out. Yet, when it came out last march, due to some procascination and bad luck (I got lost in a highway when trying to find a cinema that plays it), I managed to skip it at the cinema. Now that one year, more procascination and exams have passed, I have finally got the dvd and watched it.

Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind is truly one of the most romantic film I have ever seen. It is not romantic in the same way as a typical romantic comedy starring hugh grant / tom hanks - meg ryan. It is a rather original love story that uses science fiction to explore the the fragile nature of love, feelings, relationships and human nature. One idea that I found compelling personally is that the memory can be erased but that does not mean the feelings will go away too. There are other themes too, but saying more would spoil the movie, I would encourage this movie to be discovered on its own instead.

I would also like to talk about the great job done by french director Michael Gondry and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman. In case it is not clear, this movie does not play like your typical hollywood movie and knowing who makes it would tell you why. Gondry is a very creative director - he tells the story in a non-linear fashion and he displays a huge bag of visual tricks (lots of spotlights) and beautifully melancholic cinematography. Writer Kaufman who has developed a reputation as one of the most talented screenwriter ever for his unconventional scripts, has delivered perhaps his most accessible work yet (definitely way more accessible than the slightly overrated Adaptation) . Whatever these two men do here are not for showing off but contribute to the perfect delivery of the storytelling process of the movie. They are also assisted by a great cast. Jim Carrey gives perhaps his best performance ever here. From the first time he is onscreen, you would notice that Carrey the clown is not present; Instead, Carrey does a very good character acting in this one, bringing a lot of vulnerability to the character. Kate Winslet also did well and she had great chemistry and interaction with Carrey. Elijah
Wood acted surprisingly well as a jerk.

I would definitely reccomend this movie strongly. It's very smart, original, challenging, thought - provoking and ultimately romantic rewarding experience.

Rating: 4 out of 5 (might rise to 4.5 upon repeated viewings)