The Foxy Film Fan

Birdman (2014) Everyone adored Birdman  when it came out. People ranted and raved excitedly about how deep and meaningful it was, they dragged my expectations higher and higher, and then when I finally took the time to watch it I left with a sense of dread. Pardon my language, but this film was the most masturbatory piece of art I have seen in a long time, and I find myself convinced that it was mistaken for something greater by critics and fans due to the fact that it was highly stylized (through careful editing the entire film is made to appear as if it all takes place in one seamless take) and featured some decent performances given by well-liked and well-known actors who already have fan bases ready to support whatever they do, even if it's as bad as Birdman. While I'll admit there were aspects of Birdman which grabbed my attention and almost swept me up in its stylized beauty, specifically the soundtrack which consists only of drums, there's only so much a film ...

Brimming with sixties nostalgia and catchy fantastically composed music, La La Land is a dreamy and colorful depiction of the struggle of starving artists. Starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling as a complicated and endearing actress and pianist, the film captures the struggle faced by creative minded people who long for success (not even necessarily fame, just the ability to make it in the world by doing what they love). Expertly crafted in a fashion reminiscent of Mary Poppins, Singing in the Rain, and The Sound of Music, La La Land opts to depict itself as something mesmerizing in its cheer and optimism rather than the dark and gritty feeling of most recent musicals. The beauty of La La Land comes from how unashamed it is of being something bright and colorful, while the plot and subject matter within could have easily been used in a much darker and more dismal environment, the film instead takes a leap of faith in a direction rarely taken in the film industry these days, an indu...

50 First Dates (2004) Like so many other women before me, I too have fallen victim to swooning over the occasional movie which falls under the blanket term of 'romantic comedy'. I've sighed as the two unlikely love interests find passion and some strange mutilated version of true love based mostly on the fact that the script said these two characters must fall in love with one another, so that's exactly what they're going to end up doing. While there are exceptions to the rule, these films have the tendency to all follow the same exact formula time and time again, and on top of being lazy filmmaking it also depicts a rather unhealthy foundation for any sort of relationship (be it platonic or romantic). For some reason, the two protagonists must always begin their story hating one another. Their distaste for each other could range from one-sided affection (varying from a light crush to obsessive pining which the other ignores) to absolute loathing (as seen i...

Loving (2016) Set in the state of Virginia in 1958, Loving , explores the relationship (and subsequent court case) of interracial couple Richard and Mildred Loving. The film depicts their love for one another with simplicity, and frequently lapses into showing rather than telling as a method of communicating the passage of time and the sequence of events throughout its narrative. The historical accuracy, emotion behind the court case as they fight to legalize their love, and simple yet effective use of music all help propel this film as something to be viewed as a poignant and important piece of art which simultaneously serves as a reminder for America's darkest moments of racism. The relationship of Richard and Mildred Loving is not one introduced with swooning strings and slow zooms as they realize the depth of their fantastically deep feelings for one another, but rather humbly with quiet and shy glances as crickets chirp in the background. The introductory scene alone ...

The Holiday (2006) The romantic comedy genre is one which has been completely overrun with the same tropes repeated again and again, but once in a while a particularly unique movie comes along to break free from those cliches and reveals itself to be something original and heartwarming; The Holiday  is one of these films. Unlike other traditional romantic comedies, The Holiday  uses a simple plot to smoothly transition between the love lives of two very different women. Two women, depressed with the mundane nature of their lives, seek out the opportunity to temporarily spend the holiday season in another home, one in London and the other in Los Angeles. These two women trade places, and in the process find love. Admittedly, were the plot placed in the hands of another cast it would have fallen flat, but with a cast as talented as Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, and Jude Law, it's hardly difficult to see why the film is such an extraordinary tale of romance. Th...

The Handmaiden (2016) As you may already know, Park Chan-wook has been a long-time favorite director of mine, and when I heard he was directing a new film called The Handmaiden  I had high hopes for what I was about to see. So, a friend and I attended a screening in an art gallery, and found ourselves surrounded by elderly people while watching some of the most explicit and graphic sexual scenes either of us had ever seen in a movie. Bearing that in mind, I highly recommend that you watch this one at home, or in the company of people who are very comfortable with extremely graphic scenes of that nature, otherwise you'll find it hard to enjoy this beautiful and sweeping film. The Handmaiden  is based on a novel titled Fingersmith , with the setting shifted from the Victorian era to Korea under Japanese rule - the setting alone is captivating and provides added depth to an already intriguing plot. Its plot, without giving too much away, tells the story of a pickpocket n...