Disconnect

Disconnect was one of my favorite productions of 2013. This film successfully reveals the potential negative outcomes of using technology in our modern society. The film examines three stories where people attempt to develop a human connection over the Internet. Although it seems harmless at first, each victim eventually reaches a harmful breaking point. The most interesting story, in my opinion, is Ben's experience with cyber bullying. Ben is a high school student who has trouble making friends and even connecting with his family. One day a nice girl "Jessica Rhony" messages him on Facebook and says she likes him. They start to really connect and decide to even  get intimate. Unfortunately, Jessica is really two boys who made a fake Facebook account in order to harass Ben. They lie to him, manipulate him, and embarrass him in front of his entire school. When Ben is publicly humiliated by "Jessica" he becomes severely depressed. To go further would spoil the film.

Cyber bullying is a serious crime that is prevalent in society today. We hear of children being harassed by other kids and even parents over the Internet all the time. The problem is these bullies are able to hide behind a screen, which makes it easy to slyly harass and manipulate anyone. I think Disconnect really attacks this conflict well. It illustrates a realistic scenario that exposes the consequences  cyber bullies must endure. It also reveals the hardships that  victims, families, and communities experience when dealing with a conflict this complex. Parents of the bully and the victim are often left desperate for answers and helpless. I think that all kids using the Internet should be exposed to a film like this. It can really influence them to avoid cruel behavior. Actually viewing cyber bullying is more powerful than just hearing or talking about it. I think this film sends a significant message with the help of very realistic actors and writing. In addition, the organization of each sequence of events is very creative. With raw acting, creativity, and spectacular writing, this film has proved to be truly influential.

The Place Beyond the Pines

After seeing the trailer I was sure The Place Beyond the Pines would be an action-packed Ryan Gosling film. To my surprise, this short clip was quite deceiving. This movie is not solely based on the story of Ryan Gosling's character. Although this was disappointing, I did enjoy the film. The foundation of this production is based on a motorcycle stunt rider, Luke Glanton (Ryan Gosling) who decides to rob banks in order to support his family. Although he has a bad temper and fights often, he truly cares about the wellbeing of his child. After successfully robbing a number of banks, the cops start to closely follow his case. Without much trouble, a new cop, Avery Cross (Bradley Cooper), defeats Gosling. The majority of the film then focuses on the corruption within Avery's police force and the lives of both Luke and Avery's sons. To go further would spoil the film.

 

My favorite aspect of this film is the cinematography. Nature is exemplified with the help of camera shots throughout this film. Wide shots are used to really examine the land in which the characters thrive in. They are constantly hanging out, traveling, or riding deep in the woods. We are able to catch various shots that focus on the nature surrounding each character. Wide shots of the forest capture the true beauty of the film. The nature also represents a great deal of symbolism in this film. As total corruption disturbs the local towns, many character's discover the truth while in the forest. Nature is a place where they can escape from the lies and find truth within themselves and others. This theme stays strong throughout the entire movie. The music is very powerful throughout the film as well. It is utilized very specifically in order to enhance the emotions throughout the film. In addition, Bradley Cooper does an exceptional job portraying his character. At first he is a rookie cop who is mistreated at the bottom. As time goes on he becomes a hero and makes his way to the top. His image and personality constantly changes and grows throughout the film. Bradley is able to really capture each chapter of Avery's life. Although The Place Beyond the Pines is a tad eccentric, I thought it was shot beautifully and had a few exceptional features.

  

The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club is my absolute favorite movie. The film was directed by John Hughes in 1985 and is still viewed as one of the greatest high school films today. The most captivating aspect of this production is the acting. The five main characters, also known as the "Brat Pack", embody five different stereotypes that are commonly seen within the walls of a high school. Each character is dramatic, emotional, and is under a lot of stress either at school or home. When they are forced to endure a Saturday morning detention together they dance, do drugs, and talk to pass the time. Eventually they start building relationships that would be considered unorthodox on a regular school day. Normally the "cool" kids never want to talk to the "geeks" or the "freaks" and vise versa. These boundaries constantly halt the students  from ever becoming friends; however,  as time passes, secrets are revealed, bonds are made, and boundaries are torn down. This film is truly powerful and exposes the reality that, with an open mind, anything is possible.

Although each performance in The Breakfast Club is phenomenal, Judd Nelson is, hands down, the most impressive. Nelson took on the role of John Bender, the rebel or "the criminal" who has serious family issues and is constantly in trouble. He portrays a bitter, angry, self loathing teenager who is lost in the cloud that makes up his thoughts. He takes his anger out on other people and refuses to be controlled by any outside force. This is almost directly caused by his abusive father's behavior. The miraculous thing about John Bender is that, above all, he is smart. In result, his defense mechanisms are always clever, strong, and cut deep. I enjoy watching Nelson perform because his feelings are so powerful. His various monologues throughout the film could instantly silence a room. With controlled body language and speech, Nelson was able to make every line come to life. The Breakfast Club will forever be considered a classic because it has a good story that is heightened by the actors portraying each dynamic role.

The Sessions

The Sessions is an independent film based on the article "On seeing a Sex Surrogate" by Mark O'Brien. In my opinion, this was the most inspiring film of 2012. John Hawkes stars as Mark O'Brien, a man suffering from the effects of polio. Mark is paralyzed from the neck down and is confined to an iron lung for the majority of each day. He is unable to do anything for himself and is often left lonely and unsatisfied with the life he was born into. After Mark realizes that he may be near death, he decides that he wants to lose his virginity. After talking to his priest and giving it much thought, Mark hires a sex surrogate. He contacts Cheryl Cohen-Greene (Helen Hunt), a professional sex surrogate, to help him. Mark naturally develops feelings for Cheryl after the first few times they meet. Surprisingly, Cheryl starts to form a significant bond with her client as well. To go further would spoil the film.

 This film is smart, funny, touching, and extremely powerful. I think the script is what reflects the inner brilliance of The Sessions. Somehow, it smoothly incorporates humor into a very serious, uncomfortable situation. Although hiring a sex surrogate is clearly uncomfortable, humor is used to help the audience look past the depressing  aspects of Mark's situation. This leads viewers to the core of the film, Mark's bravery. He refuses to let his illness stop him from living. He takes a leap of faith and gets an experience that will affect his life forever. At first, we are introduced to the trials and heartache that Mark painfully experiences every day. Although he has everything working against him, he is still kind, loving, and silly. As the film progresses, Marks physical handicaps fade away and his personality gets stronger. Eventually the audience only sees a courageous, loving, and relatable man. I recommend this film because it has the power to make us understand what hope really means.