Its been a drought the last few months, with no releases what with the multiplexes on strike. So it wasn’t a wonder that Friday night was a full house show for Angels and Demons (released in single screen theatres, but what the hey). Then again it was the much anticipated Ron Howard movie, so maybe I shouldn't be wondering so much!
The tighter storyline, so makes the prequel - Angels & Demons, three years after the Da Vinci Code worth the wait. The cinematography is breathtaking and honest to goodness Salvatore Totino (Frost/Nixon) leaves you spellbound. The marriage of the ancient with the modern is brilliantly showcased through stunning panoramas of churches and Vatican City along with the yet to be understood concepts of antimatter or the God Particle. To a certain extent there is some suspension of belief, but overall the performances of Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor and the pace of the movie definitely captivate the viewer. I love the fact that there is no hint of romance between Dr. Langdon & Dr. Vittoria Vetra, which keeps you riveted to the story at all times. Doesn't matter what faith you believe in, if its the history shrouded in mystery that excites you, this one is a must see. (I've seen it twice!).
Now for my weekly dose of chick flicks, I caught up on my current favorite - Definitely, Maybe, a 2008 release starring Ryan Reynolds, Isla Fisher, Elizabeth Banks & Rachel Weisz. In this romantic caper, the unexpected but most welcome element comes in the form of Abigail Breslin (from Little Miss Sunshine fame), as the daughter of Ryan Reynolds.
The story is told in flashback and there is a certain tempo which keeps you engaged in spite of soo many characters weaving their way in and out of the storyline. Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds) is a single dad in New York, has just been served with divorce papers and picks up his 10 year daughter Maya (Abigail Breslin) who has just learnt about sex education in school. Pretty tough day huh?
So instead of getting into the birds & bees stories, Will decides to get Maya to guess who her real mother is in the form of a puzzle, with name changes et al.
He takes us way back to 1992, when a green behind the ears, Will Hayes leaves Wisconsin and his college sweetheart ‘Emily’ ( Elizabeth Banks) behind to pursue a career in NY while working on Bill Clinton’s political campaign. Here is where he meets a free spirited April, who for all her brilliance is a copy girl at the campaign office. Stuck in a series of relationships that are not going anywhere, April finds herself drawn to Will. There is on extremely tender scene, that made me sob buckets and buckets, where April gets Will to practice his proposal to Emily on her. Jeez, sparks fly and how.
Well, sometimes the pot of honey is not always at the end of the rainbow and as the story unfold, we see Will move from an almost engaged to Emily relationship to Summer (Rachel Weisz), a journalist unsure how to find herself as a true writer. In that mix, April flits in and out as Will's shoulder to cry on, sounding board and everything else except the one thing she wants the most.
The path of discovery throws up startling revelations to both Maya & Will and by the end of the movie you feel like you are trying to brook all the welling up emotion inside you by jus squeezing your eyes shut. Eventually the tears come and how. Thank God for Kleenex. A lot of Kurt Cobain, a lot of references to a certain President shouting himself hoarse about his alleged extra circular activities and lot of feel good endorphins! Call 70mm today or just catch it on HBO. On last count I saw it twice on HBO and twice on DVD!
Oh! And if you do get Kettlecorn, save a bag for me.
