Enough Said
James Gandolfini was a magnificent actor that is sorely missed by his countless dedicated fans. Throughout his acting career he won three Screen Actors Guild Awards, three Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes for Best Actor in a Drama Series, and two more SAG Awards as a member of a series' ensemble. Most of us know Gandolfini from the award winning HBO series The Sopranos. He starred as the protagonist, Tony Soprano: a mobster who faces many obstacles when trying to balance his typical home life with his demanding work situation. In addition, Gandolfini starred in many films throughout his career. His outstanding performances in each complex role show how incredibly dynamic Gandolfini was as an actor.Tragically, on  June 19, 2013 James Gandolfini died from a sudden heart attack. He was only 51 years old. One of the last films he took part in was Enough Said.  

Enough Said is a cute, hopeful film that reveals the struggles of single parents. Eva (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is a quirky, silly, lovable single mom who is sadly awaiting the day she has to send her daughter off to college. When she meets Albert (James Gandolfini) she slowly falls in love with his sense of humor and kind heart, despite his imperfect facade. The couple faces a major road block when Eva's newfound friend, Marianne (Catherine Keener) turns out to be Albert's ex wife. Marianne reveals a myriad of Albert's imperfections without knowing Eva is dating him. Eva begins to doubt her relationship with Albert after she hears everything that could possibly go wrong. Eva is left with a choice to listen to Marianne's indirect warnings or to judge Albert on her own.

Enough Said is funny and entertaining but the true magic lies within James Gandolfini's performance. One can only compare Albert's warm, loving, adorable nature to Tony Sopranos fierce, intimidating, and authoritarian personality. I highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys James Gandolfini. Apparently, Albert's character  is comparable to who Gandolfini was in real life, which is extremely interesting to watch. This film is lovely because it gives fans a way to say goodbye to one of the most dynamic actors in history, James Gandolfini. 

Fruitvale Station           

Ryan Coogler's Fruitvale Station is a heart wrenching film based on the true story of Oscar Grant. The film takes its audience through Grant's last day of life before he is irrationally murdered by BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) police at the "Fruitvale Station" in Oakland, California.

 Due to the known history of Grant, the audience fully relies on the film's depth to portray a man whose fate is already known. This puts an immense amount of pressure on Coogler to interpret this man's character, and his last few hours, correctly. I would only recommend this film to an individual who truly appreciates symbolism within a film. Coogler beautifully depicts Grant's loving, caring, and protective personality through symbolism. Grant's experience with a stray dog and his young daughter are prime examples of his compassionate heart and devotion to his family. Although Grant is far from perfect, one can only love him as his troubles unravel. Coogler also uses flashbacks to tell Grant's story. This method gives the audience background information that is useful when analyzing Grant's anger issues and complex history.  

 Michael B. Jordan's performance in this film is absolutely spectacular. His raw acting illustrates Oscar Grant's character to the last detail. Without a top notch performance of Grant's character, the film would not have come together so brilliantly. The meticulous work that was put into Fruitvale Station makes the film worthwhile. The fierce acting and complex cinematography successfully gives Oscar Grant the tribute that he deserves.