» Matt Damon

The Adjustment Bureau

Carla — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:28:32 +0000

Have you ever been out to dinner with a group of friends and the food’s not that great, but the conversation is really thought provoking? You go home hungry, but thinking. That’s how I felt about The Adjustment Bureau.

I love the movie’s theme — destiny vs. free will — but unfortunately, the plot got in the way. David Norris (Matt Damon) is a politician destined to do great things, and Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt) is a dancer destined for a big stage. They meet in a bathroom as Norris practices a concession speech and it’s love at first sight. Destiny has been hijacked. A group of hat-wearing men from the adjustment bureau are sent in by the Chairman (God?) to get everything back on track. The romance starts and stops, the hatted men go in-and-out of mysterious doors, and you’re thinking you’re glad Matt Damon is the protagonist because almost anyone else would have been totally unbelievable.

The movie tries to do too much — romance, mystery, action — but ends up not doing enough of any one thing.

First of all, does the Chairman (God?) really care more about who’s president or creating great dancers than love? I would hope not! If love at first sight isn’t destiny then surely destiny doesn’t exist. Interesting, but left unexplored, was the difference in the men at the adjustment bureau. Some were enlightened and some were very rigid — they were like religions that answer to the same God but interpret the “word” differently. The movie seemed content to pass these guys off as fedora wearing angels. Why did they show us a politician and a talented dancer? Why not a school teacher and a plumber–destiny isn’t just for people that get their pictures in the paper. Bottom line — I was more interested in what the movie didn’t do than what it did.

Good acting, great theme, but no real soul = QQQ

FRIDAY FROTH…

Carla — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:00:00 +0000

The Green Zone is a new movie that deals with the war in Iraq, specifically the first months of engagement. While it’s not nearly as good as last year’s The Hurt Locker, I did find parts of it interesting and most of it entertaining. Matt Damon has the lead role as an officer who takes his team out in search of the now infamous weapons of mass destruction. He soon learns that he is getting bad intelligence, and it’s too easy to tell that his Pentagon superior, played by Greg Kinnear, not only knows this, but also will do anything to prevent the world from finding out. This is where the movie turns political, taking easy jabs at the Bush Administration and reducing the Green Zone to black and white. It misses an opportunity to expand on an Iraqi interpreter, Freddy, who is helping Matt Damon’s character. Freddy’s is an interesting perspective into a very complex situation and I would have liked to see it explored further.

The camera work will make some seasick, but I liked its shock-and-awe movement. If you can get past the politics and the incredulity of Matt Damon going rogue in Baghdad and just enjoy your popcorn and some good action, you’ll have fun.

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The tabloids were reporting yesterday that Sandra Bullock’s husband, Jesse James, was having an affair. Mr. James has issued a statement saying that most of the allegations against him are untrue; he goes on to say that he is sorry for the pain that he has caused his wife and kids. I’m betting the affair part of the story is true. The “other woman” appears to be a tattoo model looking for attention and celebrity. I won’t delve into the reasons Mr. James may have committed his infidelity. What I do find fascinating and want to comment on are the women that go after the husbands of beautiful and successful women. This phenomenon is nothing new, but as more women are becoming high profile, we are seeing an increase in this type of affair. And, if the husband appears to be an adoring husband, these “other women” seem all the more eager. It seems these women can’t find a way to be successful on their own so they think that by enticing a successful/beautiful/confident woman’s husband to pay attention to them, they have achieved success—that by slipping into another woman’s bed you also slip into her life. Or, sometimes, these “other women” just want to take someone who appears to have too much going for them down a notch or two. These are the same insecure girls that in jr. high made-up ugly rumors about other girls. These women are less interested in getting in bed with the husband than they are in “screwing” the wife. Girls, where is the solidarity?

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It would be remiss to not mention HEALTH-CARE–a vote is expected on Sunday. It is amazing how many people are paying attention. Does anyone remember the Clinton’s health-care of the 90’s? I have a theory that people were captivated by the 2008 presidential election because for the first time, we had a woman and a black man in serious contention for the White House. Politics became captivating and we kept watching even after the presidential outcome was decided. Then we became horrified! Oh, the deficits, the bickering, and the utter contempt for the American public! There is very little good news about health-care–it’s contentious and the process has been fraught with dirty deals. The good news is that people are not only paying attention now, they are getting involved. Warning: Be very careful Washington, We The People are back, we are watching, and we will hold you accountable.

Friday Froth…

Carla — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:49:00 +0000

I saw The Informant starring Matt Damon last weekend. While it’s a very good movie–worth your time and $10.50–Mr. Damon’s performance is the real reason to see this movie. He plays his character a bit like an idiot savant and he does so brilliantly. Most actors would have been tempted to play this character over the top, but Mr. Damon exercises control, even subtlety at times, allowing us to feel some sympathy for a contemptible man. Unless there are a lot of really strong performances in the next three months, I think that Mr. Damon should be nominated for an Oscar. I emphasize should because Hollywood rarely awards control and subtlety.

Did you notice Ralph Lauren’s collection in the paper last week? Between the distressed overalls and the shirt-dresses with the paperboy caps, it’s clear that Mr. Lauren is not convinced the recession is over. I, on the other hand, am ready for better times! I loved the feminine and elegant Donna Karen dresses–check them out.

I hear that Mitt Romney has moved to California. What I can’t figure out is why. Mr. Romney is almost sure to make another run for the presidency in 2012, but Californians tend to vote more “blue” than “red” in presidential races. Wouldn’t it behoove Mr. Romney to set-up camp in a more friendly, or early primary state? Californians are receptive to voting “red” in the governor’s race–could Mr. Romney possibly be interested in straightening out California’s economic mess, biding his time while Obama finishes out his two terms? Or, maybe he’s moved to California to help his friend Meg Whitman with her campaign for governor–she formally announced this week.

The new fall television season has started. Did you see Modern Family (Wednesdays on ABC at 9pm)? The critics loved it and so did I–I think! The scenes that featured the gay couple were very funny. The scenes with the May/December couple were pretty funny too. The third family, the one that might be considered the most normal–father, mother and three kids–hit a little close to home. The kids bicker, there are discipline problems, and the oldest daughter is 15 and boy crazy (I have one of these creatures living in my house). I had to laugh to keep from crying!

And lastly, I leave you with something to make you wildly attractive and desirable–the art of the smeyes. Of course you know this is smiling with your eyes. Tyra Banks told Larry King that it was the key to her success. Don’t think that this is a big crow’s feet-inducing grin, it’s not. Rather, it’s a slight squint of the eyes with a very still mouth (Novocaine mouth, Tyra calls it)–the idea is to create a window to the soul, not a view of your dental work. I find it helps to think of something a little naughty. Start practicing!